Teachers at Rajshahi University have united against students protesting fee hike and evening classes, despite their political differences.
Thousands of students have been on strike to press for their demands when they came under attack by student activists of the ruling party on Sunday.
Their teachers have not protested the armed attack on students that led to closing down the university.The students allege the teachers, despite their political differences, have united because they stand to gain from the fee hike.
The varsity syndicate had decided on two- to five-fold hike in different categories of fees, including those for exams on Dec 24, to make up for the salary of teachers appointed in addition to the number of posts advertised.
Evening courses were started in the university’s law and business faculties.
Students protesting the move say two-thirds of the university teachers are supporters of BNP or Jamaat but they are siding with the authorities.
A human chain against ‘harassment of teachers’ was held under the banner of ‘Shikkhok Shomiti’ near Senate Hall on Monday morning.
Teachers who support Jamaat-e-Islami were silently present.
The association’s General Secretary Prof Sultan-ul-Islam in his speech proposed a seven point resolution, against the protesting students.
“Some students were protesting against evening courses and fee hike which led to a clash on campus on Sunday,” he said.
“They misbehaved with teachers and even attacked their homes and offices besides the various university buildings.”
“We’ll also form a committee to identify and take action against those responsible for these acts,” he said.
“The protest was not by regular students,” claimed ‘Shikkhok Shomiti’ President Azahar Ali.
“I don’t feel the demand to cancel evening classes was reasonable. Therefore I advise the university authorities to take action against those who posed as students to attack residence of teachers.”
When asked about the measures needed against those who attacked the protesters, he said, “We don’t want to see a state of war. The university’s probe committee will penalise those responsible for the attack.”
Shamsul Alam Sarkar, convener of the pro-BNP ‘Jatiyatabadi Shikkhak Shomaj’ in a comment about the rare unity of teachers said, “It is not entirely true that we are all together.”
“Why did the students go on strike when the decision to increase fees was put on hold?”
He admitted joining the human chain with pro-Awami League teachers, saying, “We took part in the event as members of the Shikkhok Shomiti.”
Coordinator of the student’s protest and Chhatra Union president Ayatollah Khomeni felt the teachers shamefully gave up their commitments to oppose regular students.
“We always see them protesting against the authorities. But they have decided to shake hands now that their own interests are at stake!”
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal convener Arafat Reza Ashik, “What the teachers are doing will have a negative impact since the majority of the students took part in the protests.”
“We hope the authorities will come to their senses,” he added.
“Our actions are against those who resorted to violence and chaos,” said Vice Chancellor Muhammad Mizanuddin. “We have never taken a stance against regular students and never will.”-bdnews24.com
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