JU teacher's resignation: Evading impending censure, or an appeal to conscience?

Zahidul Karim, a teacher of Jahangirnagar University, has resigned from his post in protest of attacks on general students by the members of law enforcement agencies and Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League.

Karim, an associate professor of Management Studies department at the university, sent his resignation letter to vice-chancellor Nurul Alam via email on Thursday.

However, according to the university's public relations office, Zahidul Karim has resigned due to fear of possible punishment following an ongoing investigation into an allegation against him.

A notice signed by Acting Director Mohammad Mohiuddin of the Public Relations Office, stated that following a decision of the university's special syndicate meeting held on August 28, 2021, an allegation that was already investigated once earlier, into the conduct of the MBA examination committee for the academic year 2017-2018, would be reopened.

An official investigation committee has been formed to review the report of the investigation committee that was constituted to look into allegations of aiding in malpractice during the exams. Karim was the then department head. While the investigation is ongoing, he has requested to be released from his job, according to the public relations office statement.

Zahidul Karim also cited recent events in the country as a reason in his resignation letter, but the authorities termed his reasoning 'intentional' and 'malicious', in the notice.

The university authorities firmly state that the official investigation against him will continue and actions will be taken accordingly upon its completion.

Denying the allegations, Zahidul Karim said he was not involved in any academic activities although his wife was a student of that batch. He knew nothing about malpractice during the exams and mentioned it as a conspiracy against him.

The chairman of the examination committee of the batch in question (4th MBA, 2017-18), Professor Awal Al-Kabir, said the matter is under investigation.  While refusing to be drawn into divulging details, he did add he "informed the university about his (Zahid Karim's) irregularities in the examination.

"Now it is up to the university to take action,” Prof Kabir added.

Another professor of the Business Studies Faculty, wishing to remain anonymous, told UNB that when Karim's involvement in malpractice came to light, an academic council meeting was held in the department, and the examination committee members filed a written complaint against him to the then-Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam.

 “To save him, the investigation process was prolonged, and he was sent abroad on study leave,” he also alleged.

'Teaching community's conscience eroded'

Earlier on July 25, Associate Professor Zahidul Karim submitted his resignation letter via email. He stated that he wants to voluntarily quit his job in protest against the government's brutal attacks on general students during the recent quota reform movement.

In his letter, he wrote that he has been teaching at the Management Studies Department of Jahangirnagar University for almost 14 years.

The government's negligence, and 'partisan attitudes' of his fellow teachers regarding the recent violence and chaos in the country have deeply saddened him.

He has always been vocal for truth and justice and stood by the students in their rightful demands. Many students have lost their lives due to the government's aggressive stance against the rightful demand for quota reform.

The government could have quickly accepted the students' demands, preventing such loss of lives. The families of the students who were killed had many dreams for them. They are now devastated by the loss of their children.

The entire nation is in mourning along with them. The recent killings of general students by Chhatra League, police, RAB, and BGB over the past week have created a dark chapter in the nation's history.

The killing of students and injuring some protesting teachers have surpassed the barbarity of 1971, according to Karim.

"Despite witnessing these killings, the university administration and teachers have remained indifferent. The role of teachers has become questionable to the nation," he writes.

The conscience of the teaching community has been eroded due to political partisanship, and the teacher-student relationship has been trampled.

In his letter, he also expressed his deep respect and love for all the students who have been martyred and the injured teachers and students.

"To awaken the values and moral sense of the entire teaching community of Bangladesh, I am voluntarily resigning from my position as Associate Professor, Management Studies Department, Jahangirnagar University," he declares, in a clearly more terminal decision than a temporary suspension while the internal investigation into him is conducted, that the PR office informed about in its statement.