JU teachers to boycott classes

Prof AA Mamun

A faction of teachers of Jahangirnagar University, announcing a boycott of all academic activities, has demanded the removal of the university's proctor, who allegedly assaulted a colleague of his yesterday.
Witnesses said Proctor Prof Arzu Miah grabbed the collar of Prof AA Mamun, president of Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association, punched him on the face when he [Mamun] adjourned the association's meeting and intended to leave following an altercation between two groups of teachers.
"The hot exchange of words began when a teacher of the pro-vice chancellor (VC) faction demanded the resignation of the teachers' body president. As Prof Mamun was leaving after suspending the meeting, the proctor swooped on him and landed a punch on him," Prof MA Matin, former president of JU teachers' association, who was present at the meeting, told The Daily Star.
The meeting was held at the university's Zahir Raihan auditorium.
Proctor Arzu Miah, who reportedly belongs to the VC group, however, denied the allegation.
"I did not assault anyone. They [the other faction] created an untoward situation in the meeting to make the campus tense," Prof Arzu said.
Asked why Prof Mamun was seen in tears, the proctor said he had not even interacted with the teacher.
Prof Abul Khair, a teacher belonging to the VC group and also vice-president of the teachers' association, said Prof Mamun adjourned the meeting and attempted to leave although he had been requested to continue.
Meanwhile, VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir refused to make any comment on the assault incident.
The faction that decided to boycott academic activities -- pro-BNP and a faction of pro-Awami League and left-leaning teachers -- is known on the campus as the group "disloyal" to the VC.
Its leading figures held a press conference yesterday in the teachers' lounge of the Social Science Faculty under the banner "Shikkhak Samaj -- Jahangirnagar Nirjatan O Nipiran Birodhi Protibadi Shikkhakbrindo". The teachers warned the VC that if he did not comply with their demands they would call for a movement to oust him.
Sharif Uddin, general secretary of the JU teachers' body, placed an eight-point demand at the press conference. The demands included the removal and punishment of the proctor within 24 hours, removal of the members on the proctorial body over their failure to ensure law and order and safety of students on the campus, cancellation of the probe body formed to investigate the killing of Zubair and formation of a fresh probe committee, which will submit its report in one week.
The Shikkhak Samaj has also announced a rally on the campus on January 14 to press its demands. Teachers of this faction earlier brought out a procession on the campus protesting the killing of Zubair, a fourth-year student of JU English department.
Meanwhile, ex-students of the university yesterday demanded punishment for the killers of Zubair and for a judicial probe committee to investigate the incident. They also urged a stop to administrative autocracy on the campus, said a press release.
On Wednesday, the JU teachers' body held a meeting but that too was postponed following an altercation between two groups of teachers.
After the incident, at least 100 teachers led by the Jahangirnagar teachers' association president and secretary staged a demonstration before the VC's office demanding the removal and punishment of the proctor.
ZUBAIR KILLING
Ashulia police last night arrested another suspected killer of Zubair Ahmed at Rafique Jabbar Hall of Jahangirnagar University.
Mahbub Akram, 24, a fourth-year student of the government and politics department, was picked up on the basis of information from another accused in the case, Khandaker Ashiqul Islam, said Badrul Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.
Ashiqul is now on a four-day remand. He told police that Mahbub was present during the killing of Zubair, the OC said.
However, Mahbub was not an accused in the murder case.
Meanwhile, Zubair's family yesterday demanded a judicial probe into the killing, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.
Abdullah Al Mamun, elder brother of the deceased, said, "We think the JU VC is biased and his statements regarding the killing are questionable. We have also come to learn that he is trying to influence the police."
Zubair succumbed to his injuries on Monday, nearly 13 hours after he had been brutally beaten up by activists of a faction of the JU unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, a pro-Awami League students' wing.