2 DU teachers allege political harassment

Two Dhaka University teachers have alleged that the university authorities are harassing them, as they are loyal to opposition political parties.

Mesbah Kamal of history and Shafiqur Rahman of law departments said the authorities have taken 'repressive decisions' against them without any specific allegations.

On December 22 last year, the syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, served a showcause notice on Mesbah Kamal to explain why he should not be expelled 'for slapping a female student at his office room'.

On December 31, Shafiqur was given a one-month forced leave for making 'disgraceful remarks about the prime minister' at a class earlier on day.

Mesbah is engaged in left-leaning politics and one of the teachers who led the students' movement over the Shamsunnahar Hall issue in July last year that forced the then vice-chancellor (VC) to resign.

Shafiq is a convening committee member of the main opposition Awami League-backed 'Blue Panel' of university teachers.

The university authorities, however, denied the allegations of harassing the two.

Decisions were taken on the basis of specific charges, said Treasurer Professor Syed Rashedul Hasan.

On November 26 last year, a section of newspapers published a news item that Mesbah had assaulted a female student at his office room.

Following the report, the authorities formed a five-member fact-finding committee to probe the report and find out what did actually happen.

The committee headed by the treasurer submitted a report on December 2 that did not find any evidence to back the allegations. But, the fact-finding committee report said slapping a female student is unbecoming of a university teacher.

Accordingly, the syndicate on December 22 decided to showcause Mesbah asking him why he should not be expelled from the university. The syndicate also formed another five-member committee to re-investigate the incident.

However, on several occasions, Munni, the female student in question, met the VC and other high officials and told them in writing that Mesbah is completely innocent and the charge of sexual harassment against him is untrue and baseless.

Mesbah recently told The Daily Star that the pro-government university authorities were conspiring to damage his image. He said police raided his city residence several times to arrest him although there is no case against him. Besides, the High Court has granted him a six-month anticipatory bail.

As for Shafiq, the authorities formed a five-member committee headed by Pro-vice-chancellor Professor AFM Yusuf Haider to find out what had happened at the class. It was asked to submit a report by January 21.

Shafiq denied the allegation. "Two pro-government teachers of the Department of Law are conspiring against me as I am a supporter of the opposition Awami League," he said.