No admission tests until teachers, students freed
Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) last night decided not to hold any admission test at the university until all DU teachers and a student arrested in connection with the August 2007 campus violence are freed.
"Until the release of the detainees, among whom three are faculty deans who supervise admission tests, teachers have decided that the two remaining admission tests will be withheld," Duta member Prof Muhammad Samad said at a press briefing after an emergency meeting at the university club last night.
Two of the four admission tests for nine DU faculties have been held. The admission tests of Kha and Gha units are scheduled for February 1 and 8.
The emergency requisitioned meeting called by mainly teachers belonging to the pro-Awami League Blue Panel and left-leaning Pink Panel set a new deadline for the release of the detainees within January 23.
"If they are not freed within the timeframe, we will hold a rally participated by students, family members of the detained teachers and student on the campus on January 23," Prof Samad, convener of Blue Panel, said.
Demonstrating students had already given a deadline of January 18 for the release of the detainees.
Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of the Duta, told the press briefing that the teachers' only demand is unconditional and dignified release of all the detainees through withdrawal of cases filed against them.
The teachers decided to observe a three-hour token hunger strike at the foot of Aparayeo Bangla from 10:00am to 1:00pm on January 21.
The meeting attended by around 100 teachers took several other decisions, which include continuation of black-ribbon wearing programme and hoisting black flag atop Arts Building until the release of the detainees.
The meeting decided to open a bank account and urged all to contribute to moving the cases against the detainees and compensating the detained students' families.
STUDENT DEMONSTRATION
DU students yesterday threatened to violate the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) if the detained teachers and students of the university are not freed within January 18.
The students, under the banner of Students Against Repression, a platform formed by left-leaning student organisations, gave the threat.
The demonstrating students observed a two-hour class boycott programme, brought out silent processions, continued signature campaign and staged street drama.
They will observe a two-hour class boycott programme and form a human chain today.
WHITE PANEL TEACHERS DID NOT JOIN MEETING
BNP-Jamaat backed White Panel teachers did not join the meeting, saying that holding such a meeting is against the Duta constitution.
On the other hand, the Blue Panel teachers, who called the meeting, said they convened the requisitioned meeting complying with the association's constitution.
The White Panel teachers are against going for any kind of demonstrations for the release of the detainees, as they said they have the “government assurance” in this regard.
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