Despite the attack, President of the university’s teachers’ platform, Prof Nazibul Haque announced the suspension of the on-going demonstration and resuming work from Sunday.
Prof Haque himself was reportedly injured in the attack.
He said the teachers had decided to return to their classes considering the problems faced by the students and added that their previous demands submitted to the administration will remain unchanged.
According to reports, a faction of the university teachers had been demonstrating since Nov 9, protesting against the alleged corruption and irregularities in the appointment of 126 officials in the university by former VC M Alauddin, Pro-VC Kamal Uddin and Treasurer Muhammad Shahjahan Ali.
No classes had reportedly taken place in the 22 departments since then. On Dec 27, the Chancellor, President Mohammad Zillur Rahman, relieved Alauddin of his duties and appointed Prof Abdul Hakim Sarker of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University as the VC.
Sarker took office on Jan 2 this year and on the same day the government removed then Pro-VC Kamal Uddin. The demonstrating teachers issued a statement that day demanding removal of the Treasurer and those who had been appointed by the former VC between Oct 3 and Dec 26.
The teachers threatened to continue their strike until their demands were met.
Joint Secretary of the university’s Bangabandhu Parishad, a platform of the teachers, Prof Jahangir Hossain alleged the VC, the Proctor and the Students’ Advisor had ordered the attack on the teachers.
According to reports, a group of students started a hunger strike demanding resumption of classes and tests in front of the administrative building at around 10:30am. They blocked the Khustia-Khulna Highway half an hour later, causing huge tailbacks on both sides of the road. The students withdrew their road blockade at around 3:15pm.
Up to 40 teachers, demonstrating under the banner of Bishwabidyalay Shikkhak Samiti (University Teachers’ Union), were attacked by a group of students at around 2:45pm, inside the teachers’ lounge.
The intruders charged batons and hurled brickbats on the teachers, although the Proctor, AHM Aktarul Islam and Students’ Advisor TM Lokman Hakim reportedly tried to stop them.
The attackers also vandalised several rooms of the English Department and disconnected a water supply line.
The teachers alleged that the leaders of the university’s Chhatra League unit were amongst the attackers. They identified the university’s BCL unit Vice President Mohammad Lelin, Joint Secretaries Mizanur Rahman Titu and Mohammad Kashem, Organising Secretary Mohammad Sajib, Publication Secretary Mohammad Suman along with ‘Ranu’, ‘Ilias’, ‘Rasel’, members of the front.
The teachers claimed that the Superintendent of Kushtia Police, Mofijuddin, was present at the university’s administrative office during the attack and alleged that the law enforcers did not take any action.
Proctor Islam said he had tried his best to avert any untoward incident.
“But the attack on the teachers is condemnable,” he said.
The student front of the ruling party, has denied their involvement with the alleged attacks. The President of the BCL’s IU unit, Zahangir Hossain claimed that many activists of the front had taken part in the demonstration with the general students, demanding resumption of classes and tests.
The university’s Vice Chancellor Abdul Hakim Sarker said such attack was “unexpected and unfortunate” and said the authorities would take action against the perpetrators.
