DU professor relieved from academic duties

A Dhaka University (DU) professor has been relieved from academic duties after he attacked a fellow teacher, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune. After Associate Professor Dr Md Anwarul Islam of the information science and library management (ISLM) department filed a complaint against department Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Mezbah-ul-Islam, the university authority made the decision on Sunday afternoon. Earlier on Tuesday, Mezbah had allegedly physically assaulted Anwarul, after which he filed a complaint with the VC. Since then, several students have also alleged that Mezbah allegedly assaulted them sexually, verbally and physically. The Dhaka Tribune could not obtain a confirmation of these allegations from Dhaka University authorities. The Dhaka Tribune also reached out to Mezbah-ul-Islam several times, but he was unavailable. Students of the ISLM department announced a class boycott while holding a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla on the campus. They also brought out a rally that ended at the VC’s office where the students submitted a memorandum. One of the protesters, a fourth-year student named Rahat Siddiki, condemned the chairman’s assault on his colleague, saying: “Our chairman has sullied the dignity of the whole teaching community. We demand his immediate expulsion.” The teachers of the department too boycotted all the classes and academic duties on Wednesday, after the first complaint was filed. After the decision to relieve Mezbah of his academic duties was announced on Sunday, students of the department said they were happy that justice had been served. Ahmed Rommel Tanvir, another student in the department, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We appreciate the university’s prompt decision. But we want justice regarding the attack on Anwar Sir and also the verbal and physical assault the chairman has inflicted on us.” “In the absence of the ISLM chairperson, the Dean of Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Abu Md Delwar Hosain will serve as interim chairperson of the department till the new chairman is selected,” said VC Akhtaruzzaman.