Dhaka University students boycott classes of at least 50 teachers

Students at Dhaka University have boycotted classes of at least 50 teachers from various departments and faculties. Most of these educators are associated with Nil Dal politics, and many did not support the students during recent protests.

The boycott stems from controversial remarks made by some teachers, prompting students to take action during the movement.

Among those targeted are lecturers Md. Azhar Uddin Bhuiyan and Shaherima Tanzin Arni, who have also been boycotted by students.

In the Faculty of Business Studies, at least 13 teachers have been boycotted, including Professor Md. Mizanur Rahman and Md. Abul Kalam Azad from the Marketing Department. The boycott list also includes Management Department professors Suman Das, Shabnam Jahan, and Md. Mosharraf Hossain; Associate Professor Md. Khaled Bin Amir from Banking and Insurance; Professors Md. Afzal Hossain and Shamshad Nawrin from Tourism and Hospitality Management; Professor Sheikh Tanzila Dipti from Finance; and Professor Mahmud Akhtar from Accounting and Information Systems. Additional teachers from various departments, such as Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, Associate Professor Mohammad Moniruzzaman, and Md. Jamil Sharif, are also affected.

Students remain steadfast in their decision to exclude these teachers from ongoing classes and academic activities.

Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, Mahmud Osman Imam, acknowledged the students' demands to maintain peace and order, leading to a resolution where students are now participating in regular classes.

In the Social Sciences Faculty, Associate Professors Mamun Al Mostafa and Md. Monirul Islam from the Political Science Department, along with Professor Md. Mashiur Rahman and Jinath Huda from the Sociology Department, have been boycotted. The list extends to Professor Saber Ahmed Chowdhury from Peace and Conflict Studies; Professors Md. Rofiqul Islam alias Rofik Shahria and Maria Hossain; Muhammad Billal Hossain from Population Sciences; Lecturer Miz Sumaiya Iqbal; ABM Nazmus Sakib from Criminology; Sadik Hasan from Public Administration; and Professor Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiqui from Economics.

In the Arts Faculty, Professor Baytullah Kaderi from the Bengali Department continues to face protests, alongside Professor Saiful Islam from Theater and Performance Studies. Additionally, Assistant Professor Kazi Farzana Afrin from Islamic Studies, Professors Muhammad Zahidul Islam, Assistant Professor Zahidul Islam Sana, and Mohammad Imaul Haque Sarkar, as well as a professor from the Urdu Department, Md. Mahmudul Islam, and Lecturer Md. Rakibul Hasan from Pali and Buddhist Studies, have also been boycotted. Professors Abdul Bashir and Md. Abdur Rahim from Islamic History and Culture are likewise affected.

In response to student protests, Professor Musa Rebekah Sultana and Associate Professor Mandira Chowdhury from the Philosophy Department have decided to voluntarily refrain from all educational activities for five ongoing batches. This decision was approved by the academic committee of the Philosophy Department on September 24. Prior to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Rebekah Sultana had already been boycotted by students. After the government’s fall, students protested against both Rebekah and Mandira, submitting a memorandum to Chairman Shah Kawser Mustafa Abululai.

Other teachers facing boycotts include Md. Harunur Rashid Khan from the Soil, Water, and Environment Department of the Biological Sciences Faculty, as well as Chairman Md. Kamal Uddin from the Psychology Department. Professors Mohammad Azmal Hossain Bhuiyan from Plant Science, Mohammad Shamsur Rahman from Fisheries Science, and others from various departments have also been affected.

Furthermore, the Mathematics Department's Chandranath Poddar, Professor Afroza Shelly and Professor Md. Shafiqul Islam from the Nuclear Engineering Department, and teachers from the Education and Research Institute, including Professors M. Ahiduzzaman and Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman (alias Litu), have also been boycotted.

DU Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed stated, "Complaints have been filed against several teachers at the proctor's office. In response, fact-finding committees have been established to investigate these complaints. During the investigation, these teachers will refrain from all academic activities. In some cases, faculty and students have reached agreements to boycott certain teachers through academic committee meetings, and the committee's decision will be considered final."

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