Support to quota reform movement

Teacher harassment protested at DU, JU

Torch procession at RU

Students and teachers of the Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) department of Dhaka University yesterday formed a human chain at the Aparejeo Bangla premises around noon and protested against the manhandling of Prof. Fahmidul Hoque.

On Tuesday, a group of citizens under the banner of ‘Udbigno Obhibhabok O Nagorik’, who included parents, rights activists, teachers and eminent citizens, tried to stage a peaceful protest against attacks on students demanding quota reforms in civil service at National Press Club. But they were dispersed by police. The cops also harassed Prof Fahmidul Haq and tried to detain him along with others.

Dr Rushad Faridi, assistant professor, department of Development Studies, said: “Dhaka University has become a death valley. Our university students are being roughed up, but no one can protest. We have no right to speak up.”

He said the university had a glorious past and the students and teachers always raised their voice for truth.

Prof Dr Gitiara Nasreen, a senior professor of the MCJ department, said: “Students are our children. The government should not let the situation deteriorate further if they don’t want to see guardians and teachers on the streets again.”

Masud Al Mahadi, a former student of the Journalism department, said: “There are thousands of teachers in the country but only a few are present today. Those who do not stand by the students are nothing but the brokers of the authorities.”

Hundreds of current and former students, including teachers of the MCJ department, took part in the human chain despite bad weather.

JU correspondent adds: Amid rain, teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday (Tuesday) staged a demonstration on the campus to protest the manhandling of Dhaka University teacher, Fahmidul Haq, and temporary detention of writer and anthropologist, Rahnuma Ahmed, and former student leader, Baki Billah.

They also protested the arrest of student leaders of the ongoing quota reform movement.

Around 12 noon, hundreds of students and teachers, under the banner of the "Teachers-Students Unity Platform", brought out a procession from the social sciences faculty. A brief rally was held at the New Arts and Humanities faculty building.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Anu Muhammad of the Economics Department said: "BCL and police attacks on quota reformists are unbelievable. It could never occur without the consent of the high-ups in the government. The government is supposed to find a solution to the anarchic situation in the employment sector. Instead, students have given a proposal, and this has been taken as a challenge by the government."      

Convener of the Platform, Professor Naseem Akhtar Hossain, said: "Slogans and pen are more powerful than filing cases and attacks on  students. If the government takes it as a challenge, it will be committing a big mistake."  

She described the arrest and harassment of teachers and guardians as "heinous". "There are no differences between the teachers and students in the movement as the demand is legal and logical. If the government does not reform the existing quota system, we (teachers) will go for a tougher movement with the students," she added.

She urged Chhatra League leaders and activists to stand by the general students, instead of beating them up as "agents" of the government.  

Among teachers, Professor Sayeed Ferdous of Anthropology, Professor Anwarullh Bhuiyan and Associate Professor Raihan Rhyne of the Philosophy Department, Professor Abdul Latif Masum of the Government and Politics Department, Associate Professor Anisa Parveen of the History Department and others took part in the protest rally.

Among students, Ashukur Rahman, president of the JU Cultural Alliance, Mahathir Mohammad, GS of the JU Chhatra Front, Ariful Islam Anik GS of the JU Chhatra Union and Ataul Haque Chowdhury addressed the gathering, among others. Mohammad Dider, GS of the JU Chhatra Front, conducted the programme.

RU correspondent adds: The leaders and activists of Progressive Students’ Alliance (PSA), a platform of four left leaning student’s organizations of Rajshahi University (RU) unit, on Tuesday night brought out a light procession protesting the recent countrywide attacks on quota reformation demonstrators by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the students’ wing of ruling Awami League.

They brought out the procession from behind the university central library and marched through the main points of the campus. Later, they held a short rally near Professor Dr Zoha’s shrine.

Politics and education affairs secretary Mohabbot Hossain conducted the program while president of Biblobi Chatra Moitree Fidel Monir, Chatra Union member Shakil Khatun, among others addressed the program.

They demanded arrest of the BCL men who attacked the quota reformation protesters and urged the government to bear all the medical cost of the injured students.

In last three consecutive days, the Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council, platform of quota reforms protesters, were injured in attacks allegedly by BCL activists and police when they tried to stage their scheduled programmes in different universities.

Protesting the attack, the Council called an indefinite boycott of classes and examinations in all the universities and colleges across the country from Sunday.

Support to quota reform movement

Teacher harassment protested at DU, JU

Torch procession at RU

Students and teachers of the Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) department of Dhaka University yesterday formed a human chain at the Aparejeo Bangla premises around noon and protested against the manhandling of Prof. Fahmidul Hoque. On Tuesday, a group of citizens under the banner of Udbigno Obhibhabok O Nagorik, who included parents, rights activists, teachers and eminent citizens, tried to stage a peaceful protest against attacks on students demanding quota reforms in civil service at National Press Club. But they were dispersed by police. The cops also harassed Prof Fahmidul Haq and tried to detain him along with others. Dr Rushad Faridi, assistant professor, department of Development Studies, said: Dhaka University has become a death valley. Our university students are being roughed up, but no one can protest. We have no right to speak up. He said the university had a glorious past and the students and teachers always raised their voice for truth. Prof Dr Gitiara Nasreen, a senior professor of the MCJ department, said: Students are our children. The government should not let the situation deteriorate further if they dont want to see guardians and teachers on the streets again. Masud Al Mahadi, a former student of the Journalism department, said: There are thousands of teachers in the country but only a few are present today. Those who do not stand by the students are nothing but the brokers of the authorities. Hundreds of current and former students, including teachers of the MCJ department, took part in the human chain despite bad weather. JU correspondent adds: Amid rain, teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday (Tuesday) staged a demonstration on the campus to protest the manhandling of Dhaka University teacher, Fahmidul Haq, and temporary detention of writer and anthropologist, Rahnuma Ahmed, and former student leader, Baki Billah. They also protested the arrest of student leaders of the ongoing quota reform movement. Around 12 noon, hundreds of students and teachers, under the banner of the Teachers-Students Unity Platform, brought out a procession from the social sciences faculty. A brief rally was held at the New Arts and Humanities faculty building. Addressing the gathering, Professor Anu Muhammad of the Economics Department said: BCL and police attacks on quota reformists are unbelievable. It could never occur without the consent of the high-ups in the government. The government is supposed to find a solution to the anarchic situation in the employment sector. Instead, students have given a proposal, and this has been taken as a challenge by the government. Convener of the Platform, Professor Naseem Akhtar Hossain, said: Slogans and pen are more powerful than filing cases and attacks on students. If the government takes it as a challenge, it will be committing a big mistake. She described the arrest and harassment of teachers and guardians as heinous. There are no differences between the teachers and students in the movement as the demand is legal and logical. If the government does not reform the existing quota system, we (teachers) will go for a tougher movement with the students, she added. She urged Chhatra League leaders and activists to stand by the general students, instead of beating them up as agents of the government. Among teachers, Professor Sayeed Ferdous of Anthropology, Professor Anwarullh Bhuiyan and Associate Professor Raihan Rhyne of the Philosophy Department, Professor Abdul Latif Masum of the Government and Politics Department, Associate Professor Anisa Parveen of the History Department and others took part in the protest rally. Among students, Ashukur Rahman, president of the JU Cultural Alliance, Mahathir Mohammad, GS of the JU Chhatra Front, Ariful Islam Anik GS of the JU Chhatra Union and Ataul Haque Chowdhury addressed the gathering, among others. Mohammad Dider, GS of the JU Chhatra Front, conducted the programme. RU correspondent adds: The leaders and activists of Progressive Students Alliance (PSA), a platform of four left leaning students organizations of Rajshahi University (RU) unit, on Tuesday night brought out a light procession protesting the recent countrywide attacks on quota reformation demonstrators by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the students wing of ruling Awami League. They brought out the procession from behind the university central library and marched through the main points of the campus. Later, they held a short rally near Professor Dr Zohas shrine. Politics and education affairs secretary Mohabbot Hossain conducted the program while president of Biblobi Chatra Moitree Fidel Monir, Chatra Union member Shakil Khatun, among others addressed the program. They demanded arrest of the BCL men who attacked the quota reformation protesters and urged the government to bear all the medical cost of the injured students. In last three consecutive days, the Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Council, platform of quota reforms protesters, were injured in attacks allegedly by BCL activists and police when they tried to stage their scheduled programmes in different universities. Protesting the attack, the Council called an indefinite boycott of classes and examinations in all the universities and colleges across the country from Sunday.