The University Teachers’ Network on Saturday urged the chief adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to clear the government’s stance on the countrywide intolerant, hatred and hateful behaviours against some targeted communities and people.
At a press conference at the Dhaka University Club, the coalition of teachers from different universities in the country said that the government must clarify what initiatives it would take to secure the rights of the dissents from organised violence through violent gatherings, and ensure an inclusive society.
The DU mass communication and journalism department professor Gitiara Nasreen read out an open letter at the conference, addressing the CA on the ambiguity of the government’s policy on countrywide hateful behaviours.
‘Regrettably within a few weeks of the mass uprising, we are witnessing that different intolerant, aggressive and anarchist gatherings are taking place in different parts of Bangladesh,’ she read, adding that those gatherings spread violent words against the communities and groups.
‘In some cases, attacks are carried out on people,’ she mentioned, adding that three people were killed in organised violence in three universities, and a Bangladesh Army officer while chasing criminals and national minority people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The open letter also read that attacks were carried out on women on roads and at tourist spots, workers were bullied by the goons of the owners, numerous violence incidents were also occurring in the educational institutions and different offices. ‘Attacks were carried on shrines, temples, art infrastructures to baul and Ahmadiyas.’
It is very important for the government to play a neutral role and take immediate action during this transitional period, the letter urged.
‘It is a must to stop the people, who are spreading hate speeches and intervening in the freedom of expression of the people of different identities and communities for mitigating the intolerance of the fanatical groups,’ pointed out the letter.
If the government or any university administration encourages these interfering groups to force people to follow some groups, the expectations of the mass uprising will not be implemented, said Gitiara Nasreen.
The copy of the letter will also be sent to advisers for home affairs, education, law, religious affairs and defence ministries, Gitiara Nasreen told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·.
Following the student-people uprising, the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government was ousted on August 5 and the interim government took the responsibility of the country on August 8.
