DU VC works with ‘political bias’: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday alleged that the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, due to his "political philosophy", was unwilling to listen to the JCD leaders when they went to him demanding justice for Shahriar Alam Shammo.

He also questioned whether Shammo, a JCD leader, was killed for his nationalist political ideology.

He made these remarks at a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club.

Shammo, a student of DU's Institute of Education and Research and the Literature and Publication Secretary of the Sir AF Rahman Hall unit of JCD, was stabbed to death near Suhrawardy Udyan around midnight on Tuesday.

Rizvi claimed that the VC, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, became irritated and angry when JCD leaders approached him to demand justice for Shammo on the night of the killing.

"You [VC] became irritated, angry, and even addressed them disrespectfully. Why? Just because Shammo was from Chhatra Dal? We already know your political philosophy."

Rizvi alleged, "You and the proctor are both working to implement a particular ideology. The current interim government has appointed such VCs to several universities who are doing this. Their intention is simply to implement the philosophy and ideology they believe in."

"But when he is the head of an administration, he is a teacher, and to him, every student and every student organisation should be treated with equal respect. He should talk to everyone to maintain peace on campus. But if he becomes rigid, if he starts working to establish his own particular ideology, then the university will never be peaceful. It will never bring peace."

He also said Shammo was killed after he made his position clear over the ongoing debate over the national anthem.

"There was a movement in Shahbagh to ban the national anthem, and Shammo made a Facebook post supporting the anthem. Is that why he was killed?" Rizvi asked.

He said Shammo's killing reminded him of the killing of Buet student Abrar Fahad. "Who are the political enemies involved in Shammo's murder? We're getting some hints," he added.

Rizvi also criticised the interim government, saying, "You warmly receive NCP leaders, but you charge batons and throw sound grenades at Jagannath University students when they ask for dormitories."