Dhaka University's (DU) Syndicate has decided to review all appointments of teachers, officers and staff made between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2024, while also launching an investigation into allegations against teachers accused of opposing students during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The decisions were taken at a Syndicate meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam, who confirmed them to Dhaka Tribune.
To review appointments made during the period, the Syndicate formed an investigation committee headed by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof Abdus Salam. Deans of the university's various faculties will serve as members of the committee.
The Syndicate also decided to review research activities carried out under the World Bank- and University Grants Commission (UGC)-funded Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) during the same period to determine whether project funds were properly utilised.
A separate committee, headed by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, has been formed to conduct the review.
The Syndicate also constituted a four-member committee to investigate allegations against teachers accused of taking a stand against students during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The committee comprises the vice-chancellor, the two pro-vice-chancellors and Syndicate member Prof Morshed Hasan Khan. It will examine a list of 125 teachers submitted by the platform Dhaka Bisshobiddyaloyer Fyasibad-birodhi Shikkhok-mondoli to determine whether they opposed students during the uprising.
According to the decisions taken at the meeting, if any accused teacher is found to be affiliated with a teachers' organization, action may also be taken against that organization.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Alfasane said a list had been submitted naming teachers accused of being aligned with forces that opposed the 2024 mass uprising.
He said that if the committee's investigation finds any teacher responsible, disciplinary action will be taken. If any organization is found to have been involved, action will also be taken against it.
"The committee will thoroughly examine the video footage, photographs and news reports submitted as evidence before identifying those responsible and recommending appropriate measures. If any organization is found to be involved, we will take action against it as well," he said.
Meanwhile, activists from Ducsu, hall unions and Islami Chhatra Shibir demonstrated outside the Syndicate meeting, alleging that it was preparing to approve a revised hall seat-allocation policy that would allow irregular students to stay in university residence halls for an additional year.
The protesters used a handheld microphone outside the venue, with the sound reportedly carrying into the meeting hall.
Amid the protests, the proposed policy was not approved.
The vice-chancellor said a final decision would be taken after further discussions with the relevant stakeholders.
He also said the university would review footage of those who used the handheld microphone outside the venue to project sound into the meeting hall.
The Syndicate also imposed disciplinary measures of varying severity and duration against several teachers over separate allegations. Those include Prof Md Abdul Muhit of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Prof Abu Sara Shamsur Rouf of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Prof Mohammad Bahauddin of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, Dr Rafiq Shahriar (Rafiqul Islam) of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Prof Afroza Shelley of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Prof Md Shafiqul Islam.
