They alleged that 11 distinguished teachers had so far been suspended or subjected to tribunal proceedings based on false and fabricated allegations, despite the allegations allegedly not being substantiated through investigations.
The protest followed the University Syndicate’s decision on Wednesday, September 30, to temporarily suspend Professor Zeenat Huda, a senior professor of the Department of Sociology, over allegations that she had taken a position against students during the July Uprising to topple Sheikh Hasina government.
Professor Huda is the general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association and acting convener of the university’s Blue Panel, a teachers’ platform aligned with the Liberation War.
The teachers also alleged that Professor Huda had earlier been removed from the post of chairperson of her department in an unlawful manner.
According to university sources, the Syndicate, the university’s highest policy-making body, took the decision to suspend Huda at its meeting on Wednesday.
Professor Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, pro-vice-chancellor (administration) of the University of Dhaka, said a probe committee had earlier been formed following complaints from students against Huda.
He said the decision to suspend her was taken based on the recommendations of the committee.
On Thursday, a group of teachers met Professor Alfasane and held a lengthy discussion over the issue after submitting the memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor.
During the meeting, the teachers raised objections to what they described as mock investigations conducted in the name of probe and fact-finding committees. They also protested what they called a continuing process of suspending teachers and forming tribunals on the basis of false allegations.
The teachers urged the university authorities to take immediate steps to resolve the issues and ensure that no teacher is subjected to injustice.
Professor Alfasane assured the teachers that steps would be taken to ensure that no injustice was done to them.
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