Brac University has issued a statement regarding the recent controversy of a part-time teacher tearing apart the pages of a seventh-grade textbook, saying it is not offering him a new contract.
In the statement, which was issued on Monday, Brac University said that it believes its role is to create space for all views to be discussed and debated constructively, predicated on tolerance and respect.
The university considers any act of vandalism towards national property as unacceptable behaviour and does not tolerate or support such activities.
The recent act of tearing pages of a textbook published by the government of Bangladesh included in the national curriculum for students enrolled in the seventh grade in schools, and asking others to do the same in a public forum, is an act of vandalism, a behaviour not supported by Brac University, reads the statement.
The university said, therefore, it cannot offer a part-time teaching contract to Asif Mahtab Utsha for the Spring 2024 semester. However, the university will compensate Utsha for his time and efforts towards his preparatory work for Spring 2024.
“Brac University respects and fully complies with the country's constitution and laws on all matters,” the statement said.
Accordingly, it does not promote homosexuality as has been alleged by some quarters in various social media content. However, the university believes in equal rights and opportunities for every single human being to realize their potential, it added.