4 KU teachers asked to explain supporting student movement

Letters have been issued to four Khulna University (KU) faculty members asking them to explain their alleged support for the students' movement at the university on 1 and 2 January this year.

The university administration has criminalized faculty support of student movements.  

On 13 October, they were served letters seeking explanations, and were asked to reply in the next three working days.

However, the faculty members in question did not respond within the stipulated time and appealed to the authorities for a deadline extension of four weeks.

The faculty members who received the letters are Md Abul Fazal, assistant professor of Bangla; Shakila Alam, lecturer in the same department; Haimanti Shukla Kaberi, lecturer in history and civilisation, and Ayesha Rahman Asha, lecturer in English.

The letter, signed by the acting Registrar of the University Khan Golam Quddus said that on 2 January, student protestors locked the university's Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Administrative Building and blockaded the vice-chancellor and other officials and employees.

Consequently, fear spread amongst the officers and employees working in the administrative building, especially amongst the female officials. It also disrupted administrative work and impeded normal movement. 

According to the letter, starting academic activities on 1 January every year has become regular practice at KU. 1 January is the first day of course registration for the first semester and the start of classes for the entire student body.

This is also the day when many parents visit the campus with their children. The chaos and anarchy on the campus that day has tarnished KU's image, causing disappointment amongst many new students. 

According to the university sources, the students had submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor about two months prior to the movement on 13 November 2019, putting forward their demands for accommodation and medical care.