'I want to return to campus'

Assistant Prof Maidul Islam of Chittagong University, who left the campus after getting continuous threat from Bangladesh Chhatra League activists over his Facebook remarks on quota reform, sought security from the university administration yesterday.

He demanded legal actions against the BCL men who threatened him, and urged the authorities to ensure a democratic environment on the campus.

Seeking safety, Maidul sent a letter to CU Proctor Ali Asgar Chowdhury and also attached copies of threats given to him by BCL men on Facebook.

In the letter, Maidul said, “He noticed a Facebook post on July 14 by a CU BCL leader where the leader attached photos of Maidul and his family members and issued threats.” Since then, BCL outsiders have also been threatening him on Facebook, he said.

Maidul Islam of sociology department left the campus on July 15. He said he and his wife went to a safer place as he felt insecure due to the threats.

The following day, BCL men looked for him at his office and lodged a complaint against Maidul to the department chairperson. They demanded necessary steps against him, claiming that Maidul has been instigating students and teachers and spreading hate speech against the government on Facebook.

The next day, a group of BCL men submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor against two teachers including Maidul accusing that they had posted defamatory remarks against the prime minister and had urged the students to create anarchy on the campus.

The BCL men have also announced the teachers “unwelcome” on the campus.

The university authorities on Thursday formed a three-member committee to probe into the allegations.

Contacted, Maidul said he had never posted any defamatory remark against PM on Facebook. “I have always been vocal against repression of students and teachers and will remain vocal till death,” he said.

“I want to return to the campus and start holding classes again,” said the teacher.

“I uphold the spirit of our Liberation War and the ideology of Bangabandhu. The BCL men brought false allegations against me as I spoke in favour of quota reform,” he added.

He informed that he had been writing against extremism and Jamaat-Shibir since his student life. “It is a matter of great sorrow that they [BCL] are now terming me an agent of Jamaat,” he said.

When asked, Assistant Proctor Liton Mitra said they have received the letter. “Steps will be taken as per the university's rules and regulations,” he added.