Protests force Dhaka University to abandon Anwarullah Trust Fund

An outpouring of criticism and outcry has forced the Dhaka University to give up on a trust fund named after former vice-chancellor (VC) Anwarullah Chowdhury who had to step down 12 years ago in the face of a student agitation.

This photo of agitation for Anwarullah Chowdhury's removal as Dhaka University VC in 2002 is taken from Facebook. This photo of agitation for Anwarullah Chowdhury's removal as Dhaka University VC in 2002 is taken from Facebook.

The Trust Fund was revoked in a Syndicate meeting on Tuesday night, VC AAMS Arefin Siddique told bdnews24.com.

A Syndicate member, requesting anonymity, told bdnews24.com everyone objected when a member placed the matter in the meeting.

Those who had taken part in the agitation, sparked off by torture of women students in Shamsunnahar Hall, were upset with the decision in having a trust fund named after such a controversial vice-chancellor.

bdnews24.com published a report on their reaction on Sep 6.

In the report titled ‘Dhaka University creates Trust Fund after former controversial VC Anwarullah's name, upsets many’, some of those tortured in the women’s hall in 2002 and some of the agitators criticised the authorities harshly for the creation of the Trust Fund.

Protests then raged through the social media and a programme protesting the decision was also announced.

This photo of agitation for Anwarullah Chowdhury's removal as Dhaka University VC in 2002 is taken from Facebook.

The Dhaka University strangely created the trust fund in Anwarullah's name on Aug 2. The announcement was made on Aug 15 in 'Dhaka University Barta’.

It said Tk 600,000 was handed over for creating the trust fund to the university by Anwarullah's son, Mitul Anwar Chowdhury.

‘Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury Gold Medal’ would be presented with cash rewards to two students securing highest marks in BSS (Honours) and MA in Anthropology from the income of the Trust, the announcement said.

In 2003, the movement to throw out illegal pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal occupants from the halls was started by the girl students of the university.

Policemen and Chhatra Dal activists attacked the girls who were agitating in presence of several university officials on July 2, 2003.

VC Anwarullah Chowdhury faced huge criticism at that time for failing to take robust measures against 'police torture'.

Students blaming him staged huge protests demanding his resignation that finally forced him to stand down.