'Angered and saddened'
Chittagong University teacher Maidul Islam has to be released immediately, demanded 50 teachers of different universities yesterday.
The CU authorities on Tuesday suspended Maidul Islam, an assistant professor of the sociology department, a day after he was sent to jail in a case filed under the controversia section 57 of the l ICT Act.
A joint statement, issued by the university teachers yesterday, says, “We are surprised, angered and saddened at the incident.”
“We learned from newspaper reports that Bangladesh Chhatra League stood against Maidul Islam and another teacher following their Facebook posts during quota reform movement across the country, and they were declared 'persona non grata' in their departments on July 17,” it reads.
“Facing threat from BCL, Maidul was forced to leave the campus and he sent a letter to the proctor seeking security,” it adds.
A former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader filed the case with Hathazari Police Station on July 24, accusing Maidul of making “derogatory remarks” about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Facebook.
On August 6, Maidul received anticipatory bail for eight weeks in the case. On expiry of the bail term, he surrendered before a court that sent him to jail, rejecting his bail petition.
In the statement, the teachers slammed CU authorities for suspending Maidul Islam.
They also demanded that the persons who threatened him be identified and brought to book.
Prof Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University (JU); Prof Giti Ara Nasreen, Prof Robaet Ferdous, Associate Prof Fahmidul Haq and Associate Prof Samina Luthfa of Dhaka University are among the signatories of the statement.
Meanwhile, JU teachers yesterday formed a human chain at the university's Central Shaheed Minar, demanding release of Maidul Islam.
Addressing the programme, Prof Sayeed Ferdous said the Awami League government deprived them of freedom of speech as a military ruler does.
Associate Prof Rayhan Rhyne said, “The university [CU] authorities suspended Maidul without any logical consideration.”
Among others, Prof Sharif Uddin, Prof Mafruhi Satter and Prof Manosh Chowdhury spoke at the programme.
[Our CU correspondent also contributed to the report.]
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