Dhaka University opposition faculty group demands ban on pro-Awami League teachers association

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

The pro-BNP teachers’ association at Dhaka University, known as the White Panel, has formally petitioned the Vice-Chancellor to ban the activities of the Awami League-affiliated Blue Panel and initiate punitive measures against its members. The memorandum, submitted to Vice-Chancellor A.B.M. Obadul Islam on Monday evening, accuses Blue Panel members of complicity in the suppression of the July mass uprising, alleging they facilitated fascism and oversaw seventeen years of systemic persecution against students and dissenting faculty members.

According to the White Panel, the Blue Panel actively undermined the student movement during the recent unrest. The memorandum highlights an August 1 press conference where Blue Panel leaders labeled protesting students as “puppets of a seditious conspiracy,” while simultaneously issuing threats of sedition charges against White Panel members who supported the demonstrations. Further grievances cited a rally held on August 3, where the Blue Panel allegedly held protesters responsible for acts of sabotage.

The petition also underscores a profound failure by the university administration to protect its students during the July volatility. It notes that while the university was shut down on July 17 and students were coerced into vacating their residential halls, the administration failed to ensure their safety. Furthermore, the White Panel condemned the lack of action taken by the previous administration and its affiliated faculty following the violent attacks on students during the quota reform protests on July 15.

Legal Immunity for Presidents Limited to Tenure, Official Clarifies

Read More

Abul Kalam Sarkar, the joint convener of the White Panel and acting dean of the Faculty of Arts, expressed concern that despite the significance of the July uprising, those who stood against the students remain unpunished. He emphasized the frustration surrounding the lack of accountability for those who served as proxies for the fallen regime.

Noting that the current Vice-Chancellor was himself a victim of the previous administration’s policies, the White Panel has urged him to launch a formal investigation into these allegations. They contend that holding the accused faculty members accountable is essential to establishing justice and restoring institutional integrity at Dhaka University.