'Teachers have surrendered'

University teachers have failed to play an active role during the recent democratic movements, and those who have raised their voices during the time were being suppressed or harassed, a section of university teachers said at a views-exchange programme yesterday.

Shwadhinchinta Shikkhak Network, a platform of teachers of different public and private universities of the country, organised the programme at the auditorium of Institute of Modern Languages (IML) of Dhaka University.

Addressing the programme, Jahangirnagar University's Prof Anu Muhammad said university teachers were never so content in past like the way they are right now.

“Ayub Khan had the autocratic power but what he did not have was public support, and that was why he could not sustain. But the present government has these all. The biggest crisis of our current society is that the teachers have surrendered,” he added.

Prof Anu also expressed fear that the Digital Security Act and Broadcast Act may narrow the freedom of expression.

If the government determines what is true and what is untrue, then there is no need of university [to teach that], there is no need of any newspaper or television channel as well,” said the professor.

Two papers, written by Prof Sayeed Ferdous of Jahangirnagar University's anthropology department, and Bakhtiar Ahmed, a lecturer of the same department of Rajshahi University, were presented at the discussion.

“Teachers have stood by or played important roles during any democratic movement earlier. But during the quota reform and safe road movements, while students were assaulted and arrested, none of the university teachers raised a strong voice. It seems like they have either accepted the injustice or supported that,” said Prof Sayeed Ferdous while reading out his paper.

He also alleged that most teachers are now busy thinking about their promotions, allowances and salaries.  

“The main topics of the recent meeting of Federation of University Teachers Association were: salary, allowances, loan privilege and others. But it intrigues me why did they not raise the question of why there are not sufficient funds for education and research?” he added.

Samina Luthfa, associate professor of DU's sociology department, also criticised the role of teachers' bodies of different universities, saying they are only concerned about their personal interests.

Among others, Prof Kamrul of Physics, Md Azam of Bangla, and associate professor Rushad Faridi of Economics departments of Dhaka University; Prof Al Rajee and Manansh Chowdhury of Jahangirnagar University; and Prof Nasir Uddin Ahmed of Jagannath University also spoke at the occasion.