Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday censured a section of Buet teachers and students for their “perverted” protest and warned them not to repeat such incident on the campus.
“What a disgusting kind of agitation! A boy collected blood from a girl’s body and poured it on the floor. I don’t understand, how such a perverted idea came to their minds and what examples the teachers are setting,” said Hasina while addressing a joint meeting at Gono Bhaban.
The meeting was organised to exchange views with the newly elected leaders of seven associated and like minded organisations, including Mohila League, Krishak League, Jubo League, Tanti League and Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Referring to the recent unrest at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), the premier in her inaugural speech said her government wanted to solve all sorts of problems in educational institutions through discussions.
She said, “We know how to be strict. No one has the right to destroy the academic life of a student.”
Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the teachers could inform the government if there was any problem.
“It wasn’t like we ignored their problems. They [Buet teachers] even called on me, but did not keep their word when they returned to the campus,” Hasina sounded disappointed.
She expressed concern saying who would look into the fact that lives of thousands of students were being spoiled due to the agitation of a few teachers and students.
“We don’t want to be harsh. We want peaceful atmosphere and quality education in every educational institution. But what kind of examples are they [Buet teachers] setting? They are humiliating their colleagues. Is there any guarantee that someday they will not be humiliated,” the premier said.
Hasina went on: “The president is the chancellor of the universities and he decides who to become the vice-chancellor (VC).” In Buet’s case, a few teachers had staged demonstration in the middle of the night and some students joined them later, she added.
“One midnight, they seized the VC’s office and pulled down his portrait. Why did they stage such kind of agitation that has no logic? Why are the teachers leading the students to such path? Do they not know that such students might go against them and can assault them as well,” she said.
The premier hoped that teachers would be conscious so that a student’s life is not destroyed.
Referring to the teachers’ protest at Jahangirnagar University to remove its VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir, Hasina said the teacher, against whom other teachers waged a movement, got the highest number of votes in the teachers’ association election.
“Now, should they [the teachers who protested] not be ashamed of their agitation,” asked the prime minister.
On the opposition’s demand for restoring the caretaker government system, she said, “The caretaker government of 1/11 affected us all, from politicians to journalists. But the ghost of 1/11 still exists and we all should be conscious so that such system cannot return.”
Courtesy of The Daily Star
