DU Correspondent :
Speakers at a human chain on Sunday termed the incident of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall of Dhaka University (DU) an “institutional harassment” and urged the authorities concerned to ensure safety and preserve dignity of both teachers and students of the campus.
“Become a teacher first, then an administrator,” said eminent Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said while addressing the human chain organised by Shocheton Shikkhokbrindo, a section of teachers of the university, at Aparajeyo Bangla.
DU Professor M M Akash of Ecomonics, Professor Asif Nazrul of law, Professor Robayet Ferdaous of Mass-Communication and Journalism, Professor Nurul Amin Bepari Songita Ahmed of Microbiology and Tanjim Ahmed Khan of International Relations, among others, addressed the human chain.
The same group of teachers on April 18 wrote an open letter to the DU Vice-Chancellor expressing their concern over the prevailing situation on the campus.
The rally protested Thursday’s incident when authorities ousted three female students from Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall late that night.
The female students were driven out of the hall allegedly for spreading rumours using fake accounts on Facebook during an incident at the dormitory on April 10.
On April 20, the hall Provost Professor Sabita Rizwana said the students returned to their dorm on Friday after giving written statements that they would not “spread rumours” again.
Speaking at the protest gathering, Professor MM Akash said handing over the female students to their guardians in the darkness of the night is against the values of Bangladeshi culture.
The DU teachers’ group also came up with six point demands. They are: a) Maintain teaching atmosphere for all teachers and students and ensure their freedom of speech;
b) Security to the teachers and students should be ensured and no steps against them can be taken except the specific rules and procedures;
c) Form a special cell to ensure that no students are affected by state forces or any other quarters;
d) Take legal measures against those who are directly involved with the untoward incident taken place during the quota reform movement;
e) Give exemplary punishment to those involved in the attack in the VC’s residence and ensure security at all residential areas including the VC’s residence on the campus;
f) Uphold the dignity of students and teachers, and ensure and safeguard their privacy.
