Teachers demand legal action against colleague

Teachers of geography and environment department of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have decided to boycott all academic activities for an indefinite period demanding legal action against a fellow teacher.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting on Sunday, said Prof Shahedur Rashid of the department.

The demonstrators had earlier asked the university authorities to file a general diary against the teacher, Prof Manzurul Hassan, by November 14.

Prof Rashid said they have decided to boycott academic activities as the JU authorities paid no heed to their demand.

The demonstrating teachers alleged that Prof Manzurul, showing different excuses, had delayed taking masters finals in the 2011-12 session, filed a writ petition against the department, and put safety of the teachers and students at risk by inviting outsiders on campus.

Meanwhile, JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddque issued a show cause notice to Prof Manzurul to give an explanation within three days.        

Prof Manzurul, however, refuted all allegations brought against him.

During the 2011-12 academic session, Prof Manzurul headed the examination committee. In that time, the masters finals were supposed to be held from October 1, 2012 but they were instead held in September 2013.

After he was removed from the examination committee, Prof Manzurul filed a writ petition against the department on February 7, 2014 saying he was removed illegally.