The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamal Uddin Jami

The Dhaka University teachers are divided into two groups over the release process of their detained colleagues and the students languishing in the prison for almost five months.

The teachers especially who are in favour of setting free the detainees through agitation expressed their dissatisfaction with the government decision on the release issue of the teachers and students.

While some teachers, in favour of the legal process, are supporting the process saying everybody should abide by the law because no one was above the law. However, the students under different banners carried out their agitation yesterday and pledged to continue until all the detainees were freed.

Prof Akhteruzzaman, former general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA), thanking the newly appointed Education Adviser Prof Hossain Zillur Rahman, said the Adviser has shown his sincerity in this regard.

The release issue would be acceptable and respectable if the government would withdraw all the cases against them.

Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Chairman of Bangla Department said that they are hoping immediate release of the jailed teachers but the release process has to be through legal process.

Some students under the banner of 'Chhatra Bandhu' took out a silent procession stretching from Curzon Hall area to Aparajeyo Bangla where a good number of students under the banner of 'Anti-repression students' observed a mass signature programme.

Besides, Music and Drama Department staged a street drama named "Rakta Karabi" in the same venue.

Earlier, Progressive student alliance including Chhatra Union, Chhatra Front and Chhatra Federation met the Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz reiterated their demands saying they do not want to know the types of case against the teachers and students they want to see the detainees free.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) DU Unit General Secretary Saiful Islam Firoz told The New Nation that they will go for agitation if the all detainees were not freed while Chhatra League DU Unit General Secretary Sazzad Sakib Badsha said they would urge the VC at first to free them all.