DU VC equates quota reformists with militants
Vice chancellor of Dhaka University Akhteruzzaman on Sunday compared the activities of quota reform movement with the militants.
“I myself have watched videos spreading militant ideologies the way Taliban do from militant hideouts.. Messages are being sent the way Taliban leader Molla Omar and Osama bin Laden did,” he said talking to newsmen over quota reform issue at his office.
He also alleged that the protagonists of the quota reform movement are using female students in the manner which was used by the militants as their last resort to pursue their mission.
Akhteruzzaman, made VC from pro-Awami League blue panel, further issued a note of warning that the DU administration would “no longer” tolerate any criminal offences.
His warning came the same day when a minister said the anti-liberation forces are hatching conspiracies in the name of quota reform movement.
"Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamat-e-Islami, initiated the movement seeking quota reform in government job in 2004 and anti-liberation forces are conspiring in the name of quota reform movement and their main intention is to cancel the quota for freedom fighters," UNB quoted shipping minister Shahjahan Khan as saying.
Asked if the quota reform movement has any extremist link in reality, VC Akhtaruzzaman said, however, he doesn’t know if there is any connection. He still said, “The videos I’ve watched on facebook has similarity with the videos posted by the militants. They (quota reform movement leaders) have urged others to embrace martyrdom. It seemed that some vested quarters are trying to use this movement.”
The VC also claimed that the common students want to join classes and examinations.
The classes and exams are being boycotted by the actions of what he called as ‘evil forces’.
Pointing to vandalising of his official residence and the office of the proctor, the VC said the university authorities would use advanced technology in future to identify the culprits.
He also expressed his views that the university authorities had showed certain amount of ‘leniency’ to the students while taking punitive measures against them in the past.
Also on Sunday Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, an alliance of leftist student organisations, submitted a memorandum consisting of four-point demand to the vice chancellor.
The demands include punishment of the attackers on students demanding quota reform, taking legal steps to free the arrested students, stopping repression of students by the police on university campus and ensuring democratic environment on the campus.
A group of teachers of different universities under the banner of ‘teachers against repression’ on Sunday brought out a protest rally on the DU campus.
They protested at the repression and arrest of and violence against the quota reform activists at different educational institutions across the country.
Meanwhile, addressing a rally, organised by Sramik Karmachari Peshajibi Muktijoddha Samonnoy Parishad at Sonali Bank premises in the city's Motijheel area, minister Shahjahan Khan said, "A list of those hatching conspiracies against the country despite doing government job will be made alongside the list of anti-liberation forces including Razakars and Al-Badars."