Staff Reporter :
The teachers of Dhaka University (DU) and Khulna University (KU) on Tuesday demanded resignation of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for his failure to protect the people’s life.
They threatened of tough movement against the home minister in case of failure to arrest the killers of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan.
The teachers said this at a human chain organised by the DU Teachers’ Association (DUTA) in protest against the killings of freethinkers and bloggers.
The programme was held at the base of the Aparajeyo Bangla on the DU campus.
About 200 teachers from different departments and faculties were present.
President of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) and DUTA Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said the home minister failed to protect the people’s life and to arrest the killers of the freethinkers.
“Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has no right to remain in the chair. We request him to quit willingly. Otherwise the university teachers would stage demonstration for his resignation,” Professor Farid said.
Professor Farid criticised the home minister for his remarks that the killing was an isolated incident and asked what kind of measures he had taken to protect those who received death threats.
He also urged the law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps immediately.
Secretary General of FBUTA and General Secretary of DUTA ASM Maksud Kamal referred to the minister’s claim that they had identified the culprits. “But the culprits are yet to be caught. If you can’t do it, please leave your official position.”
Professor ASM Maksud Kamal urged the government to ban all kinds of work of Amnesty International in Bangladesh.
Rokeya Hall Provost Nazma Shahin, addressing Dipan’s father Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq, said, “Sir, we beg your pardon. We all have failed to protect your son.”
Chhatraoikkaya, Chhatramoitri and Chhatra Front burnt the effigy of Home Minister.
Meanwhile, the teachers of KU staged a demonstration at Hadi Chattar on the campus protesting the killing and attacks on publishers and bloggers.
Swadhinota Shikkhok Parishad organised the demonstration. About one hundred teachers and students attended the programme.
Swadhinota Shikkhok Parishad President Professor Anirban Mostafa demanded arrest and trial of all the killers of publishers and bloggers.
