The University Teachers’ Network on Saturday held a protest rally demanding justice for those who were victims of violence, attacks, and murders on campuses and in the hills.
It also demanded that security should be ensured for all.
The rally was held at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla Sculpture at Dhaka University.
Speakers at the event included professor Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury from Dhaka University’s Department of Clinical Psychology, associate professor Samina Luthfa from the Department of Sociology, and Rushad Faridi from the Department of Economics, among others.
The speakers said that they did not support injustices occurring across the country under the guise of mob justice.
If things continue this way, peace will not prevail in the country, they added.
Referring to an incident in which a youth was beaten to death on suspicion of theft at DU’s Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury said, ‘They [the attackers] did not consider the mentally unstable person’s situation with compassion or humanity.’
‘They acted with a murderous intent. The attackers beat the youth, fed him, took photos of him, talked to him, and then again beat him, ultimately killing him,’ he added.
He also said that as a psychologist, he understood that those who committed the act were mentally ill.
Associate professor Samina Luthfa remarked that it was through politics that the country gained independence, language, and the anti-discrimination movement toppled the biggest dictator in Bangladesh.
‘Two murders have occurred at two universities, and as a result, they stopped politics,’ she said.
‘We were there when no one raised their voice. Now, amidst so many voices, it is hard to distinguish anyone. But we are still here,’ she said, adding, ‘Our numbers may be small, but we stood for justice and against oppression and domination. We still stand for the same today.’
DU management department teacher associate professor Tahmina Khanum, English department’s associate professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob, Brac University’s anthropology department associate professor Seuty Sabur, Jagannath University’s English department assistant professor Soumya Sarker, and other teachers from the University Teachers’ Network also attended the programme.