SCBA slams DU VC; demands his resignation
Claiming that Dhaka University Vice-chancellor (VC) professor Akhtaruzzaman has stigmatised the university branding the quota reformists as 'militants', the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday demanded his resignation, reports UNB.
At a press conference at the SCBA Bhaban, it also announced to provide free legal assistance to the quota reform leaders who were facing cases and interrogations of police.
SCBA president Zainul Abedin said when the general students are vocal over the quota reform movement which has been recognised as a logical one by all quarters, the DU VC's remarks over the movement is 'mysterious'.
"The DU authorities have stigmatised the university finding militancy link in the quota reform movement which is very regrettable. Although the VC's responsibility is to ensure security of the university students, his provocative speeches prove that he is out to fulfill government's evil interest," he said.
The SCBA leader also termed 'authoritarian' the restriction on the movement of general people on the DU campus.
Extending their support to the quota movement, Zainul Abedin urged the government to publish a gazette notification on the quota abolition immediately, free all the arrested quota reformists and compensate their injured leaders.
He also demanded formation of a probe body with a Supreme Court judge and two former vice-chancellors to investigate the incidents of attacks on the quota-reform movement activists and mete out punishment those responsible.
SCBA secretary barrister MA Mhhbub Uddin Khokon and vice-presidents Golam Mostafa and Golam Rahman Bhuiyan were also present at the press conference.
On Sunday, Dhaka University vice-chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman likened the activities of the quota reform activists to that of militants.
"The way the quota reformists are announcing programmes in video messages in Facebook live is similar to that of militants," he said while talking to reporters at his office.
Mentioning that several of his colleagues showed him such a live video, the VC said, "It seemed to me that they're making an evil attempt to spread provocation and violence through video messages from secret places like Taliban and Boko Haram."