The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia have issued show-cause notices to 19 teachers following an investigation into their alleged involvement in activities against the July鈥揂ugust student-led mass uprising which ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5 past year.
The probe committee also identified 11 officials and 31 students for their purported roles against protests during the uprising on the university campus.
The 19 teachers are M Mahbubar Rahman of electrical and electronic engineering department, M Baki Billah Bikul and Rabiul Islam of Bangla department, Akterul Islam, Miah M Rashiduzzaman and Afroza Banu of English department, M Mahbubul Arfin of management department, Kazi Akhtar Hossain and Shelina Nasrin of accounting and information systems department, Debashish Sharma of economics department, Tapon Kumar Joddar and Paresh Chandra Barman of information and communication technology department, Reba Mondol and Shahjahan Mondol of law department, Joyshree Sen of computer science and engineering department, Amjad Hossain of al-fiqh and law department, Shahidul Islam of human resource management department, Mazedul Islam of marketing department and Mehedi Hasan of law and land management department of the university.
The university administration, in a notice issued on Sunday, directed the teachers to submit written explanations within 10 working days, clarifying why disciplinary or legal action should not be taken against them, IU registrar office officials said on Monday.
According to the findings of a five-member investigation committee, the named individuals are alleged to have engaged in acts including threats, intimidation, aggressive behaviour, use of abusive language and involvement in incidents of police harassment during the demonstrations.
IU acting registrar professor M Manjurul Islam said that the investigation committee was formed to identify individuals involved in activities deemed subversive to institutional order.
The committee submitted its final report on August 13.
The issuance of show-cause notices to the teachers has sparked concern among academicians and civil society members who have warned that the move could gag free expression and suppress legitimate dissent within the university.
University administration said that the investigation was conducted in accordance with institutional protocols and that accountability was necessary to preserve discipline and order on campus.
They asserted that no individual, regardless of position, should be exempt from consequences if found involved in unlawful acts.
