The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

The teachers of Dhaka University, divided into two groups, met yesterday Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz separately to clarify their position about the new condition, which was imposed on madrasah students to get admitted in the university.

White panel-supported teachers observed the condition as discriminatory and urged the VC to take necessary steps to withdraw the condition soon but blue panel-backed teachers insisted on keeping new rule.

Over two hundred teachers, backed by BNP-Jamaat, attended the meeting while around 35 teachers belonging to the Awami League and Left leaning organisations were present.

White panel teachers stated their position and said they would refrain from admission test related activities if the condition was not withdrawn. Even they might go for tougher movement, it was hinted.

Prof SMA Faiz told the journalists that he would call Deans` meeting soon to resolve the issue. "The Deans will take decision about what they will do. It is their duty, not mine," the VC said.

Prof Sadrul Amin, Dean of Arts Faculty and the President of Dhaka University Teachers` Association, said he did not know about the new condition despite being a Dean of the university.

The Chairmen of the departments, who imposed the condition, did not raise this issue in the admission committee's meeting, the white backed Dean said. Blue panel-backed teacher Prof Harun-or-Rashid, also the Dean of Social Science Faculty, said "This is the matter of respective departments." Any department can change their decision when they wish. But the chairmen of the departments presented the conditions in the admission committee, he said. Eight out of 10 white panel-supported Deans claimed that the condition was not presented in the admission committee.

Earlier, agitating students with madrasah background under the banner of "Committee to Protect Right Preservation of Madrasah Students" staged demonstration on the university campus and held a rally at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla after marching throughout the campus. Later, the students submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser through Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz at 11:00am.

a five member delegation of the organisation also went to the VC office but the VC was not present at the time. Later, an official of the VC office received the memorandum.