DU teachers’ association protests syndicate decision of suspending 3 teachers

Dhaka University (DU) Teachers’ Association has strongly protested the decision of temporary suspension and formation of tribunal against Professor Dr. M Ohiduzzaman and Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research of Dhaka University and Professor Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman of the Department of Sociology. At the same time, the organization has also protested the formation of an investigation committee against Professor Dr. Shabnam Jahan of the Department of Management.

In a statement given, the Teachers’ Association said that Dhaka University is an autonomous institution and one of the centres of knowledge practice on Wednesday (September 2). This institution, operated with the coordination of various opinions, paths, arguments and philosophies, is not operated on the direction of the state machinery, but under the ‘Dhaka University Order, 1973’.

It was said in the statement that according to the Order of 1973, in the case of conducting inquiry or investigation against any teacher, officer or employee, the accused person must be given the opportunity of self-defence. At the same time, the principle of giving the opportunity to present one’s own statement and to refute the allegation through direct or face-to-face meeting with the complainants must be followed.

The Teachers’ Association claimed that baseless allegations were raised against the concerned teachers by creating a ‘mob’ during the previous unelected administration of Dhaka University. Inquiry and investigation committees were formed later on the basis of these politically motivated allegations. The inquiry committee formed against the two teachers of the Institute of Education and Research submitted the report without any conclusion or decision. The Teachers’ Association has mentioned the formation of an investigation committee later on the basis of that indecisive report as ‘farce’.

It was further said in the statement that if the truth of a specific allegation is proved through inquiry, the subsequent investigation committee may be formed on that basis. But the Teachers’ Association has alleged that the investigation committees that are being formed in Dhaka University without following these policies of the 1973 Order have become opaque and oppressive.

The organisation alleged that until now no effective initiative has been taken in any investigation committee of the university to verify the statement, arguments or the truth of the information by bringing the accused teachers and the complainants face to face. Even the minimum process of preparing the final report with the presence and opinion of all members of the five-member investigation committee has not been followed. They have also alleged that the investigation report was submitted to the syndicate without informing the representative of the accused teacher and without taking signature.

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association said that the report of such investigation committee is appearing as predetermined and one-sided. The organisation has termed the process of dismissing teachers on the basis of these reports as ‘administrative mobocracy’.

Expressing deep concern over the activities of the current administration, the Teachers’ Association said that the political culture of oppressing teachers that is being created by violating the 1973 Order must be stopped. The organisation has demanded the cancellation of the opaque and unaccountable so-called investigation committees, the end of the environment of political vengeance and fear and the re-establishment of the dignity of the teachers. Their statement is that instead of repression and expulsion, the development of merit and research practice should get priority in Dhaka University.