Ex-Zia Parishad member Prof Mansur pro-AL panel teacher at Dhaka University

Professor Abul Mansur Ahmed, a member of the Dhaka University Senate from the pro-Awami League teachers' panel now, was an active member of pro-BNP Zia Parishad in his previous workplace Rajshahi University.

The mass communication and journalism department teacher recently made headlines after starting a police case against one of his colleagues under much-reviled Section 57 of ICT Act for a Facebook post.

There was anger in the pro-Awami League Blue Panel over Prof Mansur's affiliation with the BNP previously, but a Rajshahi University teacher has  brought his ex-colleague's past to light.

In a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, Associate Professor Al Mamun of Rajshahi University's mass communication and journalism department uploaded photos of a Zia Parishad souvenir in which Mansur's picture was printed as a member of the Parisad.

"I had to make this post to share some background of my former colleague (Mansur) because many wanted to know anout this in a special circumstance. Otherwise, who wants to create pain by digging the past!!" Al Mamun wrote.

Prof Mohammad Enamul Haque, who was a joint secretary of the Zia Parishad at the time, said Prof Mansur was the right hand of the then Rajshahi University vice-chancellor Yusuf Ali.

"He (Prof Mansur) attended our meetings and took part in other political activities," Prof Enamul said.

"I heard that he got involved in Awami League politics after leaving here (Rajshahi University). He was a member of our Parishad until he left in 2006," he added.

Prof Enamul, a psychology department teacher, was one of the key persons behind the publication of the souvenir titled Mrittunjoyee Zia (death-defying Zia), according to the photos uploaded by Prof Mamun.

With his past exposed, many pro-Awami League teachers in the Blue Panel of Dhaka University are demanding action against Prof Mansur.

One of them, Prof Muhammad Samad told bdnews24.com that VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Treasurer Prof Kamal Uddin and the panel's Convener Prof Nazma Shaheen had allowed seven to eight from other parties into the panel.

Prof Samad, a former convener of the panel, added, "My question is - will they be with us when the Blue Panel faces any crisis? I think they will leave the panel at once."

Prof Muhammad Samad

Prof Sadeka Halim

Another Blue Panel teacher, sociology department's Prof Sadeka Halim said at least six Blue Panel members of the Senate had been involved with the pro-BNP White Panel.

"The teachers repeatedly said at the time of his (Prof Mansur's) inclusion that he was a member of the Zia Parishad. But the highest authority did not pay any heed," she said, in clear reference to VC Prof Siddique.

In response to bdnews24.com query on the issue, Prof Siddique, who is also from journalism department, said he did not have any information about Prof Ahmed's previous position.

Prof Arefin Siddique

"Many try to make the situation complex in such times. I don't want to make any comment as I don't have any information on it," he said.

Prof Mansur, too, declined comment on the issue.

He was elected a member of the Senate from the Blue Panel on May 22 after a rebellion in the panel.

The split panel later contested in the election as a single entity after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention.