Over 50 DU professors still barred from teaching for supporting Awami League during the uprising

Students at Dhaka University (DU) have labeled nearly 50 teachers across various departments as “unwanted,” accusing them of supporting the Awami League’s suppression and violence during the July uprising.

Repeated protests were held against these teachers, prompting the university administration to establish "fact-finding committees" and suspend them from academic duties. However, despite several months passing, the accused teachers have not been reinstated.

During last year’s demonstrations, law enforcement agencies and Awami League supporters allegedly attacked protesters. The accused teachers are said to have attempted to discredit the student-led movement instead of supporting the persecuted students. While some faculty members guided and stood by the protesters, others reportedly opposed the movement, made controversial social media posts, and even threatened to jeopardize students' careers.

Escalation of Protests

After an indefinite closure, DU reopened on September 22, reigniting student protests against these teachers. Demonstrations led to their temporary removal from classes and exams, with fact-finding committees formed to investigate. However, even after seven months, no final decisions have been made despite some committees submitting reports.

Boycotted Teachers

The teachers facing protests belong to multiple faculties and departments, including:

• Law Department: Dr. Md Rahmat Ullah, Dr. Jamila A Chowdhury, Md Azhar Uddin Bhuiyan, Shahrima Tanjin Arni
• Business Faculty: 13 teachers, including Dr. Md Mizanur Rahman, Dr. Md Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. Sumon Das, Dr. Sabnam Jahan, Dr. Md Mosharraf Hossain, and others
• Social Sciences Faculty: Dr. Mamun Al Mostofa, Md Monirul Islam, Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Dr. Zeenat Huda, Dr. Abul Kashem Mohammad Jamal Uddin, and more
• Arts Faculty: Dr. Baitullah Quaderee, Dr. Saiful Islam, Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Islam, and others
• Philosophy Department: Mst Rebeka Sultana and Mandira Chowdhury voluntarily withdrew from academic activities due to protests
• Other faculties: Biological sciences, mathematics, nuclear engineering, education research, health economics, and fine arts

Students Demand Strict Punishment

Students are calling for severe consequences against these teachers for allegedly opposing the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Some students demand forced retirement and the revocation of university benefits for senior faculty. For junior lecturers, students seek disciplinary action per university regulations and support for legal action if necessary.

One student, Maruf Hasan Shaheen, stated that many of these teachers sided with authoritarian forces and should face financial penalties if they received undue benefits. Another student, Imran, criticized the presence of authoritarian tendencies among DU faculty, urging the administration to impose exemplary punishments.

Administration’s Response

DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed that reports from several fact-finding committees would be presented to the syndicate soon. He acknowledged delays due to administrative backlogs but assured that due process was being followed to avoid legal loopholes. Some past cases had seen accused teachers evade consequences through High Court orders.

Meanwhile, DU Pro-VC (Academic) Dr. Mamun Ahmed stated that investigations were ongoing, and a resolution would be reached soon based on the committee reports. While the exact number of barred teachers remains uncertain, the administration estimates it to be around 50 to 60.