Report on teachers' link baseless, say DU authorities

The Dhaka University (DU) authorities in a press release yesterday rejected the media reports that pointed finger at DU authorities for promoting student unrest on and afterwards August 20.
Terming the reports 'false, baseless and fabricated', the DU authorities said the conflict that arose due to an incident at the playground was resolved instantly after the acting vice-chancellor and proctor promptly mediated between the students and the army.
It is, however, unclear to the DU authorities as to why and how the destructive activities spread out despite the fulfilment of the students' demands, said the DU release.
A number of newspapers yesterday ran a report quoting intelligence agencies that said teachers belonging to Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) played a role in provoking the students into violence.
As fresh agitation and other incidents started to occur, acting vice-chancellor AFM Yusuf Haider was firm, sincere and patient while trying to tackle the situation, the DU release reads.
Other DU teachers including the treasurer, hall provosts, house tutors and proctors were with him most of the time and tried earnestly to quell the tension, added the statement.
During that time, the acting VC along with many teachers and officials spent the night at different hospitals and clinics to ensure treatment of the injured, the release said.