A group of teachers and students of Dhaka University (DU) have demanded withdrawal of the honorary doctorate degrees awarded to three Pakistani leaders by the university before Bangladesh’s independence.
The then Pakistan’s military ruler Ayub Khan, president Iskander Mirza, and prime minister Khawaja Nazimuddin were awarded doctorate degrees by DU in separate occasions before Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
Under the banner of “Council for Honorary Doctorate Degree Withdrawal Movement,” the protesters announced their demands at a pre-scheduled sit-in program at Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus on Thursday.
The protesters also gave DU authorities an ultimatum till February 23 to withdraw the honorary degrees awarded to the three controversial Pakistani leaders.
DU Linguistics Department Prof Dr Sakhawat Ansari, who is the convenor of the movement, also read out a written statement to press home their demands.
