DU fires canteen leaseholder for serving beef to Hindu students

Dhaka University has fired a class-four employee who became the leaseholder of Faculty of Fine Arts canteen and hurt religious sentiments by serving beef Tehari to Hindu students.

Dhaka University Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 April 2017, 07:46 PM
Updated : 19 April 2017, 07:46 PM

Zakir Hossain was originally tasked with maintenance of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's grave but look the lease of the canteen as his side business.

"He was running the canteen without permission (from the authorities)," Acting Proctor Amzad Ali told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

He said Zakir was fired on Sunday for 'creating disorder' on Pahela Baishakh when thousands gather on the campus to celebrate the Bangla New Year.

The students of the faculty said beef was never allowed in their canteen considering the fact that it is 'forbidden' for Hindus.

The students ordered Tehari for breakfast after working overnight to prepare for the 'Mangal Shobhajatra' procession.

Zakir admitted to making the Tehari with beef, but alleged Bangladesh Chhatra League leader 'Sohag,' and his associates in the Pahela Baishakh Celebration Committee 'intentionally' ordered the beef Tehari and fed it to their Hindu 'co-students.'

He said they did so because he did not agree to their demand to pay extortion money.

The university has formed a committee to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to submit a report within a week.