Demand to stop investigation, disciplinary proceedings against 404 teachers

The Bangladesh Public University Progotishil Shikkhok Samaj has demanded the immediate suspension of ongoing investigations and disciplinary proceedings against 404 teachers across 22 public universities. The demand was made on Sunday through a joint statement signed by the organization's president, Professor Dr. M. Wahiduzzaman, and general secretary, Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman.

The statement asserted that no teacher should fall victim to political vendettas. A teacher's political belief, past political stance, or personal differences with someone can never serve as grounds for taking punitive action against them.

The organization stated that using political identity, ideology, or personal disputes as the basis for action against any teacher, in the absence of specific allegations and concrete evidence, is unacceptable.

The statement further noted that universities are vital arenas for free thought, the pursuit of knowledge, research, rationality, and freedom of expression. Threatening, humiliating, keeping teachers in job insecurity, or subjecting them to punishment based on political identity will negatively impact not just the teaching community, but also students, research, the campus environment, and the country's overall education and intellectual pursuits.

The organization put forward a six-point demand in the statement:

Immediate Halt: All investigations and disciplinary proceedings conducted against 404 teachers across 22 public universities on the grounds of political vengeance, ideological considerations, or political identity must be stopped immediately.

Abolition of Fact-Finding Committees: Investigation or so-called fact-finding committees formed on the basis of false, baseless, misleading, and motivated allegations must be dissolved.

End to Harassment: Relevant authorities must refrain from harassing, humiliating, or subjecting any teacher to disciplinary measures based on unsubstantiated news or unverified complaints.

Protection from Political Bias: A teacher's political identity, ideology, past political position, or personal differences must not be used as a basis for punitive measures.

Ensuring Autonomy and Freedom: University autonomy, the dignity of the teaching profession, freedom of expression, and academic freedom must be guaranteed.

Transparent Administration: The administration must adopt a transparent and accountable role by putting an end to an environment of intimidation, harassment, administrative pressure, and political retribution on university campuses.