DU Prof Rahmat Ullah’s suspension illegal: HC

The High Court has scrapped the decision of the suspension of Prof Md Rahmat Ullah, President of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), from academic and administrative duties by the university authority.

The High Court bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Md Bashir Ullah on Tuesday passed the order terming the suspension illegal after hearing a rule issued in this regard.

His lawyer said there is no legal bar for Prof Rahmat to perform his role as a DU teacher following the HC order.

Earlier on April 20 last year, the university syndicate suspended Prof Rahmat from all the academic and administrative duties as he paid a tribute to Khandakar Mushtaq Ahmed, one of the chief conspirators behind the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The High Court issued a rule after the teacher filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the suspension order.

On April 17, the DU authorities organized a discussion on Mujibnagar Day at the Teacher-Student Centre of the campus. During his speech, Prof Rahmat appeared to pay homage to Mushtaq. 

On April 18, Prof Rahmat arranged a press conference and apologized for “inadvertently” paying tribute to Mushtaq and gave an explanation of it.