Teachers' rift widening

The sharp division between teachers of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust), created around the protest demanding the vice chancellor's removal, is becoming more prominent day by day with one group accusing the other yesterday of pursuing personal interests.

The proponents of Vice Chancellor Prof Aminul Haque Bhuiyan said the protesters were trying to destabilise the campus after failing to make personal gains.

A group of pro-Awami League teachers, under the banner of Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Shikkhak Brindo, have been demanding the VC's resignation since mid-April accusing him of corruption, nepotism, and misbehaviour with colleagues.

Taking a swipe at the protesters, President of Sust Teachers Association Prof Kabir Hossain said the teachers did not stop the movement even after the VC had apologised to them.

"The aim is to destabilise the university after their failure to gain personal interests," he alleged.

The teachers loyal to the VC yesterday made the accusations at a human chain and a press conference on the campus, under the banner Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay O Muktochinta Charchai Oikyaboddho Shikkhak Parishad, also a pro-AL platform.

Prof Kabir said the protesters did not pay any heed to the education minister's directive and the decision made in a teachers' meeting. "We don't want our university to stay shut for a single day." He demanded a probe into the incidents that happened at Sust in the last five months.

Meanwhile, a platform of Sust students, teachers and employees yesterday demanded a proper investigation into the death of student Muhammad Shahriar Majumder.

Shahriar was found hanging in his room in Surma residential area of Sylhet city, a half-an-hour walk from the campus, on September 3. It was not clear whether Shahriar, who was an activist of anti-war crimes Gonojagoron Mancha, was murdered or committed suicide. His friends said Shahriar had been receiving death threats since 2013.

Addressing a mourning rally on the campus yesterday, Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal said Shahriar was a very animated young man; he could not commit suicide.  He demanded a high-profile investigation into his death. "Why will he keep his laptop open and mobile phone charging if he intended to commit suicide?" he asked. "If he committed suicide, we will accept it but he was not that kind of boy," he added.

Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Chhatra, Shikkhak, Karmakarta, Karmachari Brindo, a group aligned with the opponents of the VC, organised the mourning rally.