SM Mizanur Rahman :
Academic and politicians strongly condemned the Sunday’s attack on teachers’ demonstration on Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Sylhet.
They termed the attack as barbaric one, warning if exemplary punishment to those involved in beating the teachers is not ensured country’s higher educational institutions will fall in serious trouble.
At least nine teachers of SUST were injured in attacks carried out by the activists of BCL on the campus on Sunday.
“We are shocked and upset and lost our words. When students assault teachers at a place like public university campus, there is no meaning of education, norms and values. Actually we have lost our moral compass completely, and unless we find it, we will be in big danger,” Serajul Islam Choudhury, littérateur, professor emeritus of University of Dhaka told The New Nation on Monday.
Meanwhile, a section of teachers under the banner of Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Shikkhak Parishad observed three-hour work abstention, from 9am till 12noon on Monday to protest yesterday’s attack on their demonstration by BCL.
However, all examinations were out of the purview of the protest programme. The teachers took out
a procession on campus and staged a protest rally on the campus. They said as per the instruction of Vice-Chancellor the BCL activists launched attack on them and demanded immediate removal of the VC.
The teachers announced that they will continue their agitation until the removal of Vice Chancellor Professor Aminul Haque Bhuiyan.
General students also staged demonstrations and held protest rally under various banners condemning the attack on teachers.
Meanwhile, the university authorities formed a three-member probe committee-led by Dean of Physical Science Faculty, Professor Sabina Islam to investigate the incident.
Serajul Islam said country’s most of the prestigious public universities are facing various problems including session jam and unrest.
“The government will have to deal the issue with iron hand as the attackers are its party’s student wing’s activists,” he said. Professor Delwar Hossain, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, said such sort of incident can not take place in a civilised country.
“We are strongly condemning the attack. How and in what way students assault their teachers. It is my now my question what we are teaching to our students,” he said.
He demanded of the government to take stern action otherwise the situation will take a serious turn once.
Professor Zafar Iqbal said he will not demand punishment for BCL activists over yesterday’s attack.
“We never gave such education. Whose punishment shall I demand? They are the students of this university,” he told journalists. He said when the university authorities use the BCL activists to assault teachers, nothing can be said over the issue. Former university proctor, Emdadul Haque, sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention in removal of SUST VC within 24 hours.
President of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury in a statement on Monday demanded a judicial inquiry to investigate the incident.
“I strongly condemn the attack. Government will have to take the issue seriously to avert such barbaric incident on the campus in the future,” he said.
Awami League leader Suranjit Sen Gupta on Monday demanded immediate removal of the VC.
“The VC who uses students for his own purpose, has no moral right to stay his position. He (VC) must quit,” Suranjit said while addressing a discussion in city.
