3 DU teachers suspended over alleged opposition to July Mass Uprising

The University of Dhaka administration has temporarily suspended three teachers over allegations of opposing the July mass uprising. Departmental tribunals have also been formed against them.

In a separate decision, a teacher from the Department of Music has also been temporarily suspended over allegations that he was appointed without meeting the educational qualifications specified in the recruitment advertisement.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the university’s highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, on Monday (31 August) afternoon. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Mohammad Almojadedi Alfechani confirmed the matter.

The three suspended teachers are Professor Dr M Wahiduzzaman and Professor Dr Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research, and Professor Dr Mashiur Rahman of the Department of Sociology.

According to the university administration, the Syndicate took the decision after a committee formed to investigate allegations that the three teachers had opposed the July mass uprising submitted recommendations holding them responsible. Further proceedings against them will now take place before the departmental tribunal.

Meanwhile, Dr Md Ziaur Rahman (Sayem Rana), an associate professor in the Department of Music, was temporarily suspended over allegations that he did not meet the required educational qualifications at the time of his appointment. A separate investigation committee has been formed to examine the allegation.

According to the administration, he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Islamic Studies and later completed an MPhil and PhD in Music. However, the recruitment advertisement had required candidates to have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music.

Female students’ hall gates to close at 11pm

The university Syndicate has also decided to extend the closing time of female students’ residential hall gates by one hour.
Under the new decision, the gates will now close at 11pm, instead of 10pm as was previously the case.

However, student platforms campaigning for improved conditions in female halls—including “We Want Discrimination-Free Women’s Halls”, “Women’s Hall Reform Movement” and “Abarodhabasini”—have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision.

They said extending the closing time by only one hour would not resolve the long-standing issue of the so-called “evening curfew” imposed on female students.