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Published : 29 May 2018, 01:07 AM
Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman said the university’s syndicate sacked Rezaur in a meeting on Monday.
He said they have also launched an investigation into alleged distortion of history by marketing teacher Prof Morshed Hasan Khan, now suspended.
Rezaur was accused of describing Bangladesh’s first military dictator Ziaur Rahman as the first president of the country in the anniversary souvenir.
Prof Morshed allegedly said in a recent newspaper article that Zia, not Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, proclaimed independence.
VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman chaired the syndicate meeting also attended by pro-VCs Prof Nasreen Ahmad and Prof Muhammad Samad.
In an article on the residential halls of the university in its 95th anniversary souvenir published on July 1, 2016, Zia was described as “first president, a former military chief and valiant freedom fighter”.
It introduced the nation’s first President Bangabandhu 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”.
When the issue came to the fore at the anniversary discussion event, the then VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique withdrew the souvenir.
He later relieved Rezaur, who was in charge of its publication, of his duty as acting registrar following protests.
Angry protesters of Bangladesh Chhatra League also vandalised Siddique’s car.
On July 21, the university formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Treasurer Kamal Uddin.
A teacher who was present at Monday’s syndicate meeting said they took the decision to dismiss Rezaur following the report by the investigation committee.
He said they also demoted section officer Rifat Amin, who assisted Rezaur in publishing the souvenir.
Rezaur was appointed acting registrar in 2007 when SMA Faiz was the vice-chancellor. Faiz was appointed during the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government’s tenure.
Prior to that, Rezaur had worked as Teacher-Student Centre’s deputy director.
Arefin Siddique was appointed VC on Jan 15, 2009 after the Awami League came to power and kept Rezaur in the acting registrar’s job.
On Mar 26 this year, Bangla daily Naya Diganta published an article by marketing department teacher Prof Khan on the occasion of Independence Day.
The article titled ‘Jyotirmoy Zia’, or radiant Zia, highlighted the BNP founder’s contribution to Bangladesh.
“Most of the Awami League leaders and their families went to India, leaving the people of the country leaderless in a death trap; even Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was at the centre of their dreams did the same,” Prof Khan wrote.
“The proclamation of independence came after Mujib had been arrested, not before that. As far as I know, he never proclaimed independence,” he added.
Dhaka University Teachers’ Association had demanded punishment of Prof Khan while BCL had demonstrated, declaring him 'persona non-grata' on the campus later.
A BCL leader in Chattogram had also started a case against Prof Khan and two others on charges of belittling Bangabandhu and distorting history in the article.
VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman said they have constituted a five-strong committee headed by Pro-VC Samad to investigate the allegations against Prof Khan.
The other members of the committee are Earth and Environment Science Faculty Dean Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, and syndicate members Engineering and Technology Faculty Dean Dr Md Hasanuzzaman, SM Bahalul Mojnun, and Law Faculty Dean Prof Dr Md Rahmat Ullah.
Prof Akhtaruzzaman said the committee has been told to submit a report ‘as soon as possible’.
