Dhaka University sacks acting registrar after souvenir calls Zia Bangladesh’s first president

Dhaka University has fired acting registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman after a souvenir he had supervised described military dictator Ziaur Rahman as Bangladesh’s first president.

A circular issued by Munshi Shams Uddin, Deputy Registrar at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, on Friday said VC AAMS Arefin Siddique had ordered his removal.

“University Registrar (acting) Syed Rezaur Rahman has been relieved of his position. The order will come into effect immediately,” the circular said.

Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman told bdnews24.com, “Information has been distorted. That’s why the decision to relieve him has been made.”

An article appearing in the souvenir on the halls of the university mentions that “Zia was Bangladesh’s first president, a former military chief and valiant freedom fighter”.

Rahman was responsible for the publication of the souvenir to mark the university’s 95th founding anniversary.

The article says, “Ziaur Rahman became the president of Bangladesh on Apr 21, 1977 after the Liberation War and was killed in a military coup on May 30, 1981.”

It describes first President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as “one of the main leaders of Bangladesh (who) was at the forefront in the struggle to carve out Bangladesh from East Pakistan and is considered the Father of the Nation.”

A speaker at a discussion on Dhaka University Day at the TSC brought the issue to everyone’s notice, triggering protests by activists of the ruling Awami League’s student front Chhatra League and general students.

The vice-chancellor suspended the discussion immediately and announced the ‘confiscation’ of the souvenir copies.

Chhatra League activists kept acting Registrar Rahman confined to his office until acting Proctor Amjad Ali rescued him at around 12:45pm.

Following the confinement, Chhatra League activists led by their Dhaka University unit President Abid Al Hasan and General Secretary Motahar Hossain Prince led demonstrations before the vice-chancellor’s residence.

They demanded that the acting registrar be put on trial.

The protestors attacked Siddique’s car when it reached there. Later, he walked home.

Members of the university’s proctorial body and police rushed to the scene on hearing about the protest.

Chhatra League activists stayed there until 3:30pm.