5 assistant proctors resign from Dhaka University, another likely follow

Five assistant proctors of the University of Dhaka have submitted their resignation letters, while another is expected to step down by the end of Thursday.

All five were appointed to the posts during the tenure of the interim government following the July mass uprising.

Allegations have emerged that the university administration had asked them to resign. However, the university's proctor, Associate Professor Md Israfil Ratan, has denied that any such pressure was applied.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday (November 12), he said, “So far, I have received the resignation letters of five assistant proctors. Two submitted their letters yesterday and three today.”

The five who have resigned are Associate Professor Muhammad Rafiqul Islam of the Department of Arabic; Lecturer Atia Sanjida Sharmi of the Department of Zoology; Associate Professor Muhammad Mahbub Kaiser of the Department of Sociology; Associate Professor Sharmin Kabir of the Institute of Education and Research; and Assistant Professor Jahangir Alam of the Department of Management Information Systems (MIS).

Assistant Professor Rezaul Karim Sohag of the Department of Criminology may also resign, according to sources.

One of the teachers who submitted a resignation letter alleged that the proctor had called him in and requested that he step down.

“Sir called me in and requested that I resign. I asked him, ‘Sir, would that be helpful?’ He replied that it would be very good if I resigned. I later agreed to step down at his request,” the teacher said.

Another teacher, however, said he had resigned for personal reasons and wanted to devote more time to academic work.

Responding to the allegations of pressure, Proctor Israfil Ratan said, “Everyone in Bangladesh is politically conscious. Whenever something like this happens, people see a political angle, whether we laugh or cry. Ultimately, only those concerned can explain the matter. I have not felt any such pressure, nor has any pressure been exerted from my side.”

The University of Dhaka currently has 21 assistant proctors.