A group of university teachers, under the banner of University Teachers Network, have called for an investigation into the recent attacks by Chhatra League and police on students demanding quota reform. They emphasized that every instance of murder and act of torture must be brought to justice.
Speaking at an anti-oppression teachers' rally organised by the network at Aparajeya Bangla at Dhaka University on Wednesday (July 17) afternoon, the teachers stressed that those responsible for the violence against students must be held accountable.
They also demanded that the families of the deceased receive compensation and that the medical expenses of the injured be covered by the authorities.
Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Department Professor Giti Ara Nasreen highlighted the bloodshed that has occurred in recent days across various districts, including Dhaka, stating, "The people of Bengal want to live and have their rights, as was proclaimed in Bangabandhu's speech on March 7, 1971. Even today, these words resonate with the people of independent Bangladesh."
She condemned the ongoing torture of students, citing the heart-wrenching cry of Abu Saeed's mother from Rangpur, who questioned, "Why did they kill my son?" Nasreen also referenced the distress of a student lying on a stretcher in a hospital, asking, "Why are we called Razakars?" She questioned who would provide answers to these desperate pleas.
Nasreen pointed out the pervasive discrimination in the country and the uncertainty surrounding students' lives. She criticised those who do not understand the rights and pain of the students, stating, "Those who make statements without understanding the students' pulse and pain are out of touch with their reality."
She accused top government officials of breaching their oaths of office to treat everyone according to the law without fear, favor, affection, or resentment. She condemned the sudden cancellation of quotas in a fit of anger and protested the shooting of students, urging the government to treat students with respect and not violence.
Samina Lutfa, associate professor of the Sociology Department, said the quota system needs logical reform and that the government shares this view. She criticized the government's and university administration's handling of the situation as irresponsible.
Professor Asif Nazrul of the law dDepartment described the student movement for quota reform as embodying the true spirit of the liberation war, which aims to ensure equality, non-discrimination, and equal rights. He rejected the labeling of protesting students as "Razakars."
Professor Kamrul Hasan Mamun of the physics department stressed the responsibility of teachers to protect their students, expressing regret for not acting sooner to organize and support the movement.
Other speakers at the rally included Professor Tanzim Uddin Khan of the International Relations Department, Nova Ahmed of North South University, and more than a hundred teachers from Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
AAH/NMA