JU Penalises Teachers and Officials Accused of Backing July Uprising Attacks
The decisions were announced by Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan after a nearly 13-hour syndicate meeting held at the university's administrative building, which began yesterday afternoon and ended around 4:45am today.
The actions include compulsory retirement for one teacher, demotion and salary downgrading for nine teachers and one official, warnings for two teachers, and exoneration of seven teachers and one official. The syndicate also decided to form three separate structural committees to investigate the roles of the then vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), and treasurer.
Associate Professor Mehedi Iqbal of the Department of Geography and Environment was sent into compulsory retirement.
The salary grades of Prof Esrafil Ahmed of the Department of Drama and Dramatics, Prof Mohammad Alamgir Kabir of the Department of Statistics, Associate Professor ASM Firoz Ul Hasan and Prof Bashir Ahmed of the Department of Government and Politics, Prof Md Tajuddin Sikder of the Department of Public Health and Informatics, Prof Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz of the Department of Zoology, and Lecturer Kanon Kumar Sen of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems were downgraded.
Several of them have also been barred from holding administrative positions for the next five years, although they may apply for promotion after two years subject to meeting specified conditions.
Assistant Professor Mohibur Rouf of the Department of Drama and Dramatics was demoted to lecturer, while Deputy Registrar Nahidur Rahman Khan was demoted to assistant registrar. Both will be eligible to seek promotion again after two years under certain conditions.
Associate Professor Hosne Ara of the Department of History and Prof AA Mamun of the Department of Physics received warnings. Prof Mamun was also declared ineligible to hold any administrative position for the next five years.
On the other hand, Assistant Professor Palash Saha of IBA-JU, Prof Shafi Mohammad Tarek of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Prof Jahirul Islam Khandaker of the Department of Physics, Prof Muhammad Sayadur Rahman and Associate Professor Manir Uddin Sikder of the Department of Public Administration, Prof Mohammad Jahangir Alam of the Department of Economics, Prof Mohammad Anowar Khasru Parvez of the Department of Microbiology, and Assistant Registrar Rajib Chakraborty were cleared of the allegations.
Speaking after the meeting, the vice-chancellor said, "These decisions were made after extensive discussions and scrutiny based on the report submitted by the investigation committee. The syndicate attached the highest importance to ensuring that no innocent person is punished and no guilty person escapes accountability," he said.
He added that the investigation report also highlighted the roles of the former vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), and treasurer, prompting the syndicate to unanimously decide to form separate structural committees to examine their conduct.
The verdict drew criticism from several student organisations.
Leaders of the Students' Union, Islami Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Shakti described the decision as inadequate, arguing that the measures failed to ensure proper accountability for those accused of supporting attacks on students during the July Uprising. Chhatra Dal leaders said they would review the verdict before issuing a formal response.
President of the JU unit of the Students’ Union, Adri Ankur, termed the syndicate’s decisions a “farce”.
“The decisions taken in the name of trying teachers accused of supporting attacks on students during the July Uprising are nothing but a mockery. Among those who held administrative responsibilities during July, only the pro-vice-chancellor (academic) has faced a decision. We have seen no concrete action against the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), or treasurer beyond the formation of new structural committees,” he said.
He further said that reducing the salary grade of then Proctor Alamgir Kabir and barring him from administrative duties for five years amounted to “mockery". Mazharul Islam, general secretary of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and secretary of the JU unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, also criticised the outcome echoing the same.
“The verdict amounts to nothing more than a warning gesture. We reject this decision,” he added.
JU unit Chhatra Shakti President Ziauddin Ayan said the verdict had once again demonstrated that “teachers are unwilling to hold other teachers accountable”.
JU unit Chhatra Dal Member Secretary Wasim Ahmed Anik said the organisation would review the verdict further before issuing an official response.
