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A section of students and some teachers staged a protest and demanded removal of the VC of Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, on charges of corruption. A clash broke out when teachers and staff loyal to the VC came to her house, supported by the Bangladesh Chatro League (BCL). Tabassum Tahmina questions the attack on peaceful protesters and assault on teachers by supporters of BCL. An exclusive for Different Truths.
The protest and demand to remove Vice-Chancellor over corruption allegation have been going for quite some time in Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. On Monday, November 5, the student protesters took a position in front of VC’s residence in the early morning. Some of the teachers joined them. They were demanding her resignation over allegations of corruption. She has been alleged involvement in misappropriation of around 1.6 crores from a Tk 1,445-crore development project, in cooperation with Bangladesh Chatro League.
On Monday, November 5, the student protesters took a position in front of VC’s residence in the early morning. Some of the teachers joined them. They were demanding her resignation over allegations of corruption. She has been alleged involvement in misappropriation of around 1.6 crores from a Tk 1,445-crore development project
The clash broke out at 11.15 am when teachers and staff loyal to the VC came to her house. Later, a procession led by Bangladesh Chatro League unit president Jewel Rana arrived on the scene amid growing tensions.
It is the same BCL, the members of which Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) BCL unit had killed Abrar Fahad in the dormitory. Abrar Fahad was murdered for giving status on Facebook. He posted in Facebook, his different opinion regarding Bangladesh Government’s water-sharing policy with the Government with India. He was not politically associated with any political party. He was beaten to death after six hours of inhuman torture.
After his death, BUET VC failed to show up for 36 hours and did not even attend his funeral. In his own words, the VC was busy communicating with the higher authorities to discuss how to handle the situation. After three days, he went to visit Abrar Fahad’s grave in his hometown Kustia. But the villagers obstructed him from entering Abrar’s house. And he had to flee with heavy security provided to him. Perhaps he presumed that it was a good decision to take the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) along with police.
Jahangirnagar VC, Prof. Dr. Farzana Islam, took a different approach. To rescue her from these protesters came BCL. The BCL activists roughed up the protesters and drove them away, and the police remained mysteriously silent during the whole time.
But Jahangirnagar VC, Prof. Dr. Farzana Islam, took a different approach. To rescue her from these protesters came BCL. The BCL activists roughed up the protesters and drove them away, and the police remained mysteriously silent during the whole time. Later, VC Farzana thanked BCL for staging a mass uprising to free her from the protesters.
Four faculty members resigned after the incident. Jewel Rana, BCL president, who took the initiative to stage a mass revolution to rescue VC Ma’am, resigned after two days. The protest is continuing, while this write up is being filed.
Let’s hear VC madam’s side of the story. According to her, she is innocent, and protesters are spreading false rumours. These protesters are associated with fundamentalist political organisation, Jamaat -E -Islam student organisation Islami Chatro Shibir. After all, they are not protesting under their banner. The protesters’ student banner is known as ‘Jahangirnagar Against Corruption.’
On November 8, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina asked the protesters to prove VC’s so-called allegations. She warned them, if they could not do so, they would face punishment. The protesters submitted proof on 8th November.
On November 8, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina asked the protesters to prove VC’s
so-called allegations. She warned them, if they could not do so, they would face punishment. The protesters submitted proof on 8th November. Is it the responsibility of the student protesters to prove allegation and provide evidence? Indeed, The PM has reasons to say so. Perhaps, that Anti Corruption Bureau and government’s intelligence, law, and enforcement agency are not functioning correctly.
Let’s hear the protester’s side of the story. They were attacked during a sit-in protest led by BCL JU UNIT president Jewel Rana. After 15 minutes of the assault, BCL succeeded to disperse the protesters. VC supporter’s teachers were also seen with the BCL.
Along with the students, including female students, the teachers were assaulted. Let’s put aside VC Farzana Islam’s corruption allegation, the protest is the political identity of the teachers and students. How come the students attacked their teachers?
Along with the students, including female students, the teachers were assaulted. Let’s put aside VC Farzana Islam’s corruption allegation, the protest is the political identity of the teachers and students. How come the students attacked their teachers? They are students of this university. Did some teachers instigate students to assault their colleagues? Where are we heading?
Why should the students can think of assaulting their teachers? We have been taught to respect our teachers as our parents. We are losing our sense of morality and civility. Can we blame those BCL students only? The VC loyalist teachers participated in the assault. We, some commoners, think that they have lost their right to called teachers. They have set a wrong precedent and this gross example will inspire and encourage others to repeat it.
Think of the parents of the students who were assaulted and who were assaulters. In Bangladesh, the majority of the students in public universities come from low-income families. The private universities are unofficially reserved for the middle class and upper-middle class. The upper class always go abroad for their education.
Think of the poor parents who have to send their children to this university. Some parents, after their long day office work, drive cabs to bear the expenses of education. Mothers are engaged in tailoring at home or do the cooking for the rich.
Think of the poor parents who have to send their children to this university. Some parents, after their long day office work, drive cabs to bear the expenses of education. Mothers are engaged in tailoring at home or do the cooking for the rich. These are two random examples. We are witnessing the lack of moral conscience.
All are running after money, power, status, and position. To secure that what they need is unconditional loyalty to the people on the throne. Just for argument sake, let’s assume those teachers who were assaulted were associated with fundamentalist political organisation. Does this reason justify the attack on teachers? And the teachers who were also part of this abomination need to answer to the public.
This incident is a national shame. Assault on teachers by their students and colleagues in broad daylight is a slap on the face of the nation. Immediate actions should be taken so that similar incidents never happen again.
Photos from the Internet
