Prothom Alo’s picture distasteful, says SUST teacher Prof Yasmeen Haque

Prof Yasmeen Haque has criticised Prothom Alo for using a ‘distasteful and misleading’ picture in its coverage of Sunday’s attack on the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) teachers.

In a statement published on her husband Zafar Iqbal’s official Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon, she explained what had happened that day.

The picture, published on Aug 31, showed Haque pointing finger at Jalalabad Police Station OC Akhtar Hossain, appearing to be threatening him, as Hossain stood with folded hands as if he were apologising.

Its caption said Jalalabad police OC Hossain regrets attack on the SUST teachers.

Haque clarified the matter saying she had a ‘bad habit’ of pointing fingers when speaking.

“The way Prothom Alo took advantage of this [habit] and insulted Mr Akhter Hossain by publishing the distasteful picture has saddened me much,” she said in the statement in Bengali.

Bangladesh Chhatra League activists attacked the Sylhet university teachers, demonstrating on Aug 30, for the vice-chancellor’s removal, leaving several teachers, including Prof Haque injured.

She said she could have been grievously hurt had it not been for OC Hossain and a group of policewomen who saved her.

“I’m grateful to them,” she said, adding she had apologised to Hossain for the Prothom Alo picture.

She attached two pictures showing her shaking hands with the OC and policewomen with the statement to “give them the honour they deserve and to express my gratitude”.

Prof Iqbal, in an introductory note, said he was publishing his wife’s statement on his page at her request as Prof Haque did not have a Facebook account.