Sust teacher demoted over 'Facebook post'

An assistant professor of anthropology of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) has been demoted to the post of lecturer over a controversial post on Facebook.

The  decision was taken at an urgent syndicate meeting on Wednesday.

The teacher, Monjur-ul-Haider, allegedly wrote in a recent Facebook status, "Din Gunchhi…Aschhe Amar Anonder August (Counting days, my happy August is approaching)”. Sust Registrar Ishfaqul Hossain said the teacher was also sent on six months' leave and fined Tk 50,000, which he must pay within six months.

On July 18, after the Facebook post, a faction of teachers under the banner of "Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Sikkhok Forum” submitted a memorandum to the vice chancellor, demanding his punishment.

They claimed that the teacher intentionally humiliated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in August, and that he posted another status against Bangabandhu in 2013.

Registrar Ishfaqul said the administration gave him a "show cause" notice on July 18, but he could not give any satisfactory answer. On July 17, Bangladesh Chhatra League men also vandalised the teacher's room over the his Facebook post.

Talking to The Daily Star, the teacher said his original birth date was August 15, 1975, and his PhD thesis submission date and the date of publication of his journal article on birds also fell in August.

He said the authorities misinterpreted his statement as his birth date in all certificates was mentioned as December 26, 1977, which was changed during his school registration. “I will appeal against the syndicate's decision following the university's action,” he said.