Universities are meant to be institutions where learning, debate, and intellectual growth flourish. At the centre of that should be teachers who, historically in our country, have been held in high regard as educators and mentors, commanding respect.
Yet, it is extremely worrying to see recent incidents at Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, and others paint a troubling picture: Teachers chased, dragged, confined, and humiliated by groups of students, often affiliated with political organizations.
To say that our universities have not been held in high regard for some for some time would be an understatement. However, if such normalization of what appears to be mob behaviour displayed by students in institutions that should embody discipline and respect continues, this reputation can only get worse.
When students take it upon themselves to harass or physically restrain teachers, they not only undermine the rule of law but the very sanctity of higher education.
However, it is the silence from the administrations that is most troubling, and only emboldens such actions that have no place on the premises of universities.
There is no question that if a teacher is accused of wrongdoing, whether political or criminal, the matter belongs to law enforcement and institutional disciplinary mechanisms. Students have no mandate to mete out punishment, and any attempt to do so is nothing short of mob justice.
Not only do such actions make other teachers fearful of expressing opinions or conducting their duties but, more worryingly, it sets a precedent where intimidation replaces dialogue, and violence replaces procedure.
Ironically, such a culture of harassment only risks repeating the authoritarian practices that many universities supposedly seek liberation from.
We hope university administrations recognize that teachers deserve protection and harassment must be condemned. Our universities cannot afford to let mob behaviour become equivalent to justice.