BCL threats force pro-quota reforms teacher to leave campus

An assistant professor of Chittagong University has left the campus in the face of threats from Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) following his posts on Facebook in favour of quota reforms.

Md Maidul Islam, a faculty member of the university's sociology department, told Prothom Alo that he was living with his family on campus.

He said he left the campus on Monday in face of the BCL threats.

Kh Ali Ar Raji, an assistant professor of the communication and journalism department, also came under wrath of the ruling party’s student wing for his support to the teacher.

BCL has already sent a memorandum to the vice-chancellor of the university Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, demanding dismissal of two teachers from the university.

Incidentally, BCL has no university committee on campus since 6 December last year when it was dissolved.

Maidul Islam has been writing in favour of quota reforms for last few days on the social media platform. He recently shared a photo of teachers who came under BCL attack in Dhaka.

Following the Facebook post, a group of BCL leaders and activists ranging 15 to 20 went to the sociology department’s chairman SM Monirul Islam and pressed complaints against Maidul.

When the BCL men started creating chaos in his room, the chairman assured them he would look into the matter.

The BCL leaders also posted a photo of Maidul on Facebook and threated  him. 

Another teacher Kh Ali also said he feels unsafe on the campus. “I can’t move around easily on the campus.” 

Kh Ali said he will continue to fight against those who will try to curtail the teachers' freedom of speech.

Asked about the matter, former president of the university’s BCL unit (now dissolved) Alamgir Tipu said, “There is no problem here centring quota reform movement. Two teachers are trying to heat up the campus by posting comments on Facebook. They even mocked the government. If they continue to do so, we will first protest and prevent it.”

Neither vice-chancellor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury nor pro-vice chancellor Shirin Aktar answered when attempts were made to call them over phone.

Proctor Mohammad Ali Asgar Chowdhury said he has no information about the matter.

“No teacher has complained as yet. Once they complain, we will investigate the matter.”

Meanwhile, a student of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) was suspended from the campus for posting comments on Facebook in favour of quota reforms.