DU suspends 3 teachers, official over July Uprising allegations

The Dhaka University (DU) administration has suspended three teachers and one official over allegations related to the July Uprising and threats against students.

The decision was taken at a Syndicate meeting on Sunday night, DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Prof Abdus Salam told The Business Standard on Monday (23 June).

According to university sources, the disciplinary measures were based on reports submitted by inquiry committees formed after the political transition on 5 August to investigate allegations raised by students.

The teachers suspended are Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of the Department of Public Administration, Prof AKM Jamal Uddin of the Department of Sociology, and Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam of the Department of Banking and Insurance.

Deputy Registrar Muhammad Lavlu Mollah was also suspended over the same allegations.

In a separate decision, the Syndicate relieved Tashrik-e-Habib, a teacher of the Bangla Department and Prof Mohammad Ajmal Hossain Bhuiyan of the Department of Botany, from academic activities following a recommendation from the department’s academic committee.

“We have accepted the reports regarding the accused individuals submitted by the investigation committees formed after 5 August in response to students’ requests. Further action will be taken according to procedure,” Prof Salam said.

“The Syndicate also approved a previous recommendation to cancel the studentship status of former Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) General Secretary Golam Rabbani,” he added.

In November last year, the university’s Academic Council recommended cancelling Rabbani’s MPhil admission, stating that it had not been processed in accordance with university regulations.

The council further recommended declaring his election as Ducsu general secretary in 2019 invalid, arguing that he did not hold valid studentship status at the time of the election.