The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University Teachers Association has decided to postpone its scheduled programmes for two weeks following assurance from the government that the detained teachers and students will be released soon.

Meanwhile, wives of the four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University yesterday appealed for mercy to the President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed.

The President is expected to pardon the four teachers and set them free.

The teachers are Moloy Bhoumik, Associate Professor of Management Department, Salim Reza Newton, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dulal Chandra Biswas and Abdullah Al Mamun.

The DUTA called off its programme after a four-hour-long general meeting participated by about two hundred teachers of the university yesterday evening.

Acting president of DUTA Prof Tazmeri SA Islam told journalists that they had postponed the programme only for two weeks on confirmation that the detained teachers would be released within a fortnight.

The teachers belonging to the Awami League and left-leaning parties took classes yesterday wearing black badges demanding the release of detained teachers and students in connection with August 20 to 22 campus violence.

Sources said the students of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of the University have decided to abstain classes from today for an indefinite period to press home their demand for the release of the detained teachers and students.

Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz said the government's view was very positive about the detained teachers and he hoped that they would be freed.

Prof Tazmeri SA Islam, Acting General Secretary Dr Mamun Ahmed, former president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, former secretary Prof Akhteruzzaman, Prof Aminur Rashid and Prof Syed Manjurul Islam, among others, took part in the discussion.

Earlier, the association held an emergency meeting Saturday night after receiving a phone call from Education Adviser Dr Ayiub Quadri to review the programmes.