Despite long-pending demand by Rajshahi University teachers to declare February 18 as “National Teacher Day” to honor the sacrifice of Dr Shamsuzzoha, who became the country’s first martyred intellectual during the 1969 mass-uprising, the state authorities are yet to pay any heed to the plea, the teachers alleged.
On February 18, Dr Zoha, then RU proctor and professor of chemistry department, was gunned down on the university’s main entrance gate by the Pakistani Army while he was requesting the force not to shoot the students brought out processions defying the section 144 on the campus.
The students were on streets protesting the murder of sergeant Zahurul Haque, an accused in the Agartala conspiracy case, in the custody of the Pakistani forces.
Afterwards, Dr Zoha’s death sparked violent protests across the then East Pakistan finally leading to the fall of the Ayub regime.
On the demand yesterday, hundreds of teachers, and students from the university formed a human chain organised by “Chemistry Association” in front of the senate building on the campus around11am.
Addressing the programme, RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mizanuddin said Dr Zoha was the idol of the teachers’ society who sacrificed his life for the safety of his students and at last the sacrifice encouraged the nation in the 1971 Liberation War.
To give an honour to the sacrifice and to hold his ideology, the government should declare February18 as “National Teacher Day”, the VC went on.
The teachers alleged that the government has long remained heedless to their appeal to observe the day across all educational institutions in the country.
Later, the Chemistry Association handed over a memorandum to the VC to address the matter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Among others, RU Pro-VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Treasurer Prof Sayen Uddin and Prof Azhar Ali addressed the human chain as well while Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of chemistry department and president of Chemistry Association, presided over the event.
