Teachers slate madrasa students' vandalism at DU VC's office
Teachers of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday expressed concern over Saturday's vandalism at the office of DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz by a group of madrasa students.
They were speaking at a protest programme at the foot of Aparajyeo Bangla on the university campus at 12:00noon.
The DU teachers demanded proper investigation into the incident and said it was an attack not only on the VC's office but also the university's dignity.
The protest programme, in which about 50 DU teachers took part, was organised following a decision at Sunday's meeting of the executive committee of Dhaka University Teachers Association (Duta).
Over a hundred madrasa students along with some DU students, vandalised the VC office demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision of not allowing admission, in some departments, to the students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses.
Meanwhile, several hundred madrasa students in the morning formed a human chain at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) intersection to press home their demands.
Former Duta president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said a department itself sets the admission criteria.
"The students who want to get admitted to those departments have to fulfil the required criteria," he said.
"It was a planned attack. There might have been an instigation from a certain quarter", Prof Arefin said adding that a proper investigation into the incident is essential.
When asked whether it was part of a conspiracy to shut the university, Prof Arefin said such a possibility cannot be ruled out.
Social Science Faculty Dean Prof Harun-or-Rashid said the people responsible must be brought to book immediately.
"It was not a stray incident. There is a link between the attack on the vice chancellor's office and the removal of sculptures in front of Zia International Airport," Prof Harun said.
Duta General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam, Dr Zinat Huda, Dr Ahiduzzaman, Assistant Prof Hafizur Rahman Curzon, Prof Dr Hossain Mansur, Dr Syed Manzurul Islam, Prof Fakhrul Alam, Prof AKM Golam Rabbani and Dr Salma Chowdhury, among others, were present.
Sources said none from the BNP-Jamaat backed 'White-Panel' participated in the programme although the decision of holding the programme was made at a Duta meeting with its president and White-Panel Convener Prof Sadrul Amin in the chair.
Meanwhile, several hundred madrasa students formed a human chain at the TSC (TSC) intersection demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision.
Earlier, DU VC Prof Faiz said stern actions would be taken against the people involved in the vandalism.
But the law enforcers deployed at the TSC did not take any action against the madrasa students.
While talking to The Daily Star, Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station Rezaul Karim said, "We need clear-cut orders to go for action on the university campus. Besides we have to be cautious that no untoward incident occurs on the campus," he said.
He also said they had already identified some madrasa students involved in the vandalism and would take action against them soon.
DU authorities on Saturday night filed a case against 150-160 unidentified people with Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the vandalism at the VC office.
Comments