Heated arguments in academic council meet over BCL men

Dhaka University teachers yesterday evening had heated arguments at the academic council meeting held over the “illegal enrolment” of 35 Chhatra League leaders.

The 35 students, including Golam Rabbani, former general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League, reportedly get enrolled to the university by violating admission rules ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) polls.

Nine of them got elected to different posts in the Ducsu and hall union polls.

The argument broke out when Prof ABM Obaidul Islam, chairman of the physics department, also convener of the BNP-backed White panel of DU teachers, took the floor and read out a written statement.

The academic council meeting, held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate building around 3:00pm, was chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman.

Talking to the reporters Prof ABM Obaidul said, “We asked the council, which is the highest academic decision-making body, to launch proper investigation into the incident and to bring the perpetrators to book. The illegal enrolment of 35 Chhatra League men tarnished the image and dignity of the university.”

Thirty-four of the Chhatra League leaders reportedly got admitted to an evening course titled “Master of Tax Management” under the banking and insurance department of the Business Studies faculty, according to media reports.

Golam Rabbani was allegedly enrolled under MPhil course of Criminology department, the reports said.

Speaking about the incident last night, Prof ABM Obaidul said, “Prof Abul Mansur Ahmed of mass communication and journalism department first protested my speech terming it politicised.”

He said later the Blue Panel teachers, including the Ruqayyah Hall provost, also Sociology Professor Zeenat Huda, and former Education and Research Institute Professor M Wahiduzzaman exchanged words with him.

Prof M Wahiduzzaman, also the former VC of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), urged the council to expunge Prof Obaidul’s speech, several members from the academic council told this newspaper.

Professor Mansur, Zeenat and Wahiduzzaman are the members of Awami League backed Blue Panel of Dhaka University teachers.

Vice-chancellor Akhtaruzzaman termed Prof Obaidul’s speech “unparliamentary” and expunged the speech from council proceedings.

Contacted, the vice-chancellor did not give details and said the matter should remain within the academic council.