Progressive teachers of Rajshahi University (RU), who currently dominate teachers’ politics, including the administration of the activities of the campus, do not dare walk alone outside after sunset.
“Many of the teachers, including me, bring along two of our department staff or attendants when returning home after nightfall,” Dr Ananda Kumar Saha, a professor of the geology department, said.
Ananda, a former convener of the progressive teachers body, said there are 644 teachers registered with the association. They do not feel secure, he said, despite their importance on campus.
The murder of Professor AKM Shafiul Islam Lilon, the most recent murder of a teacher at the university, is the reason so many academics are fearful, the liberation war participant and thirty-year veteran teacher at the university said.
Nazmul Haque, assistant professor of sociology, who changed his address mid-month out of fear of an attack, said: “If teachers like Shafiul can be killed in broad daylight, then anything is possible at RU.”
Unidentified assailants hacked Shafiul while he was returning home from the RU campus on November 15.
University sources said RU has been dominiated by progressive professors and staff since 1981. However, they said changes came this year after the killing of Chhatra League leader Meer Mostak Elahi.
Another teacher, a veteran professor of RU who came to the university in 1974 as a student before ultimately becoming a teacher there, told the Dhaka Tribune that since 1981, anti-liberation forces have been trying to rise up.
“We progressive minded teachers let this happen by dividing into factions, including Awami League, Jasod Awami League and Basod Awami League,” he said, requesting not to be named, out of fear for his life.
After 1992, Jamaat-Shibir gained in strength and were bolstered by the BNP-led government that came to power in 2001, he said.
We lost two of our teachers, Professor Dr Younus in 2004 and Professor SA Taher in 2006 from attacks by anti-liberation criminals, the professor said.
“After 2009, progressive minded teachers’ once again started to rise following the Awami League (AL) poll victory but anti-liberation forces attacked and killed one of our teachers to send their message home,” he said.
Professor Dr Ananda Kumar Saha said: “They killed a professor in broad daylight and if they want to, they may enter our houses and kill us.”
“We understand that if the present government falls, we will be destroyed as well,” he said.
Management studies professor, Kumar Bhowmick, said Shafiul was killed to threaten all like-minded academics.
“You see, the murder was committed just as the International Crimes Tribunal started handing down its verdicts to war criminals, the professor said.
Mashihur Rahman, associate professor of journalism, said: “If the authorities do not take action against the killers, they will be encouraged by it. Two of our teachers who were killed brutally have not received justice yet.”
Professor Dr Pronob Kumar Pandey, general secretary of the RU teachers’ association, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We, the teachers, stand together and are doing our best to ensure justice for our slain colleague. We have observed a number of programs in support of our demand for justice.”
The RU vice-chancellor, Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are doing our best to ensure a safe and secure environment on campus. We hope the authorities ensure proper justice for the murder victim.”
The newly appointed commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, Mohammad Shamsuddin, said he was aware of concerns about security at the university and ordered additional forces and night patrols to cover the campus.
Security would be enhanced at teachers’ residence area, Bihas, near where Shafiul was fatally assaulted, the commissioner said.
