DU sociology prof targets student for supporting quota movement, threatens legal action against participants
UNB
Publish: 07 Jul 2024, 04:19 PM
Dhaka,
July 6 (UNB) -A professor in the sociology department of Dhaka University, has
allegedly suspended a student from the department's debating club for
participating in the quota reform movement and threatened to file a contempt of
court case against those involved.
The student, Mosharraf
Hossen, is a fourth-year student from the 2019-20 academic session and was
nominated as the general secretary of the department's debating club earlier
this year.
Students of the
department also alleged that Prof. Abul Kashem Mohammad Jamal Uddin threatened
that those involved in such 'controversial' activities would never be able to
serve as class representatives or hold positions in any committee linked with
the sociology department.
Following Mosharraf's
suspension, 45 out of the 71 committee members resigned in protest.
In a leaked screenshot,
the professor allegedly ordered students to post a poster on their Facebook
timelines, threatening that "if the post is not found on any student's FB
timeline, I will not say anything now. But it will be reflected in the exam
results."
When contacted,
Mosharraf said, "I have been suspended from the general secretary post
because of my association with the quota reformation movement and my posts
about the movement on Facebook. The moderator of the organization, AKM Jamal
Uddin sir, made this decision unilaterally without following any rules."
He added,
"Moreover, he also threatened to file a contempt of court case in the
department's messenger group. I'm neither afraid nor worried about this. I am
boldly expressing my support for the quota movement. I will stand with my
fellow activists until our demands are met."
Other committee members
confirmed the suspension and threats.
Despite several attempts
to reach AKM Jamal Uddin by phone, he did not respond to calls.
On June 26, during the
annual senate meeting of Dhaka University, Professor Jamal expressed his
support for the freedom fighter quota system in government jobs, citing a
controversial reference from the Quran.
He indicated that
freedom fighters were the sole victors of the country, insisting on maintaining
a 30% quota for them in government jobs. He referenced Sura Anfal, stating,
"Those who win will be the owners of eighty percent of the wealth, jobs,
and land of the country. The remaining will be for others."
END/UNB/AHT/RT/ssk