UNB, Dhaka :
A police complaint has been filed against Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul over his controversial Facebook post hinting at a Kabul airport-like situation in Bangladesh “if fair elections are held”.
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the students’ wing of the ruling Awami League, filed the complaint at the Shahbagh police station on Wednesday night, said acting officer-in-charge Moudud Howlader.
“His remarks have tarnished the country’s image,” as per the complaint.
Police on Thursday claimed to have received the complaint from BCL’s human resource development secretary Md Nahid Hasan Shahin, but said that no FIR was filed in connection with the general diary entry.
“The complaint has been accepted as a general diary entry. As the allegation pertains to cyber security, we will take further steps only after consultation with the detective branch of the cyber unit,” Moudud said.
In his Facebook post on 17 August, the law professor wrote: “The scenario of Kabul Airport could also take place in Bangladesh as well, if fair elections were held here.”
Enraged by the Facebook post, BCL on Wednesday even locked his office at the university’s law department.
The Chhatra League activists also pasted posters on the wall outside his room that demanded the professor’s trial for treason, terming him an agent of Jamaat-Shibir and the Pakistani spy agency ISI.
The students also accused the professor of supporting militancy and the Taliban and demanded his removal from the university.
In another Facebook post on Wednesday, Prof Nazrul however, expressed concern, saying that “deep expectation for a free and fair election was expressed in the post; there were no attempt to provoke fundamentalism or terrorism.”
In fact, the group of fundamentalists or terrorists was the main opposition of holding a free and fair election, he added.
When contacted, DU Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani said that he was looking into the matter.
DU unit Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain claimed that general students locked Prof Nazrul’s office, following his “seditious” statement in favour of militancy.
“We hope that he will withdraw his remarks immediately and apologise to the nation,” Saddam said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Muktijuddha Mancha, a platform of the descendants of freedom fighters, on Wednesday, burnt an effigy of Prof Nazrul and also demanded action against him.
Aminul Islam Bulbul, president of the Mancha, said that they would announce tougher movement if the professor was not dismissed.
