DU Correspondent :
Around a hundred teachers of Dhaka University and other three public varsities at a solidarity rally in Dhaka University (DU) campus on Thursday have asked the government to stop attack on students spearheading quota movement and warned it may eventually turn into an agitation to bring down the government if excessive use of muscle power continues on the students.
They demanded immediate release of arrested students and assault on teachers in DU and other campuses. They issued call on the Prime Minister to implement commitment for abolition of quota in government jobs instead of trying to silence the movement.
The teachers blamed the government for excessive use of muscle power on students and teachers to divert the peaceful quota reforms to violent one. Such attempts will be counterproductive at the end, they said.
Under the banner of ‘Teachers against Repression’ they organized the rally at Aporajeya Bangla in the DU campus. Apart from teachers of the DU, teachers from Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology took part in the gathering. Over 300 students participated in the rally.
Professor Gite Ara Nasreena of DU Mass Communication and Journalism Department presided over the function. Professor Anu Muhammad of Economics Department of Jahangirnagar University, said, ‘Quota reform movement is both logical and ethical. It’s a protest against systemic discrimination. But the government is illegally harassing the quota reformist students. They are being arrested without any warrant and remanded.’
‘Some quota reform leaders were shown arrest for vandalism at DU Vice-Chancellor’s residence. But we believe our students can’t attack the VC’s residence. So we hope the administration will not harass our students,’ he added.
MM Akash, Professor of Economics at Dhaka University, said, ‘Now we are seeing dual administration at DU. One is the university authority and another ‘administration’ is being run by some people who are torturing the general students at all dormitories.’ They are intimidating students not to take part in quota movement.
‘We tell the University Administration, if you fail to control the torture of ‘alternative administration’, you have no right to hold the power.’ He demanded resignation of the VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman for sheltering torture and violence on the students. Prof Nasrin Obaid said the VC has no competence to continue in the post and he should resign.
Professor Hasibur Rashid of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said, I come here to mobilize a logical movement. But in view of the DU administrations I am an outsider. We noticed they banned outsiders in the campus before. Actually the varsity administration is living in the dark and they are afraid of the light.
‘I urge the students not to be afraid. We are ready to stand by you to fend those who will come to suppress your movement’, he added.
Professor CR Abrar said, ‘younger students are pathfinders to the nation and source of our inspiration for future. Teachers will lend them all support to take the movement forward.’
Associate Professor Tanzim Uddin Khan of International Relations Department, Assistant Professor Rushad Faridi of DU Economics Department, Professor Fahmidul Haq and Associate Professor Abdur Razzak Khan of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Assistant Professor Samina Luthfa of Sociology Department among others attended the rally.
After the rally they brought out a silent procession from Aporajeya Bangla which paraded different roads on the campus.
