RAJSHAHI, August 17- A college lecturer in Rajshahi’s Charghat upazila has been temporarily suspended after posting a tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Facebook on August 15, the death anniversary of Bangladesh’s founding leader.
Soheli Akter, a lecturer in Home Economics at Nandangachhi College, shared a photo card featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the caption “Humble tribute” on her Facebook account on Saturday.
The decision to suspend her was taken at an emergency meeting of the college’s governing body on Monday after members of the college unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) protested and demanded her permanent dismissal and legal action.
JCD Nandangachhi College convener Sahedur Rahman Sahed alleged that Akter was attempting to promote the ideology of the Awami League on campus. He also claimed that her father was a former vice-president of the district Awami League and that her family was involved in Awami League politics.
Akter, however, said she was unaware of the suspension until journalists contacted her. “I do not know what my offence is,” she said, adding that she had taken verbal leave from the college on Monday.
College Principal Wahedul Islam said Akter had posted about the “chief” of the banned Awami League and described the post as “anti-state.” He said the suspension was imposed to maintain discipline at the institution.
However, when asked how the suspension was issued without first serving her a show-cause notice, the principal did not provide an answer.
College governing body chairman Saiful Islam also confirmed that no show-cause notice had been issued before the suspension. He said the governing body had unanimously decided to suspend Akter, while claiming that she had committed other offences as well. He did not explain what those alleged offences were or whether they had been included in the meeting’s resolution.
The incident has raised questions about due process in disciplinary action against college teachers, particularly as the institution’s authorities acknowledged that no show-cause notice had been served before the suspension.
COMMENTS