Government college teachers on Tuesday boycotted classes across the country, protesting at alleged attacks on some teachers of Dhaka College by their students on its campus in the capital on Monday.
The incident of alleged assaults happened over the proposed Dhaka Central University which will incorporate seven government colleges in Dhaka.
There were tensions between teachers and students of the seven colleges over the establishment of the university as the students suspected that the teachers were against the move.
The boycott was observed in the capital Dhaka and different districts by the teachers who did not take classes and examinations in the colleges, including those under the National University.
Following the Dhaka College incident, the BCS General Education Association, a Bangladesh Civil Service education cadre鈥檚 organisation, called the boycott after a meeting with government college teachers at Dhaka College on Monday.
BCS General Education Association general secretary professor Masud Rana told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday night that they would hold a meeting with the representatives of the seven colleges today to discuss the overall situation.
He demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of attacks on the teachers and students and ensuring proper presence of education cadres in the proposed university ordinance.
抖阴精品鈥檚 Dhaka University correspondent reported that work abstention across all government colleges, madrasahs and offices, wearing black badges, was held in protest against the alleged harassment of the teachers.
At Dhaka College, on Tuesday teachers were seen observing work abstention wearing black badges.
They gathered at the teachers鈥� lounge to protest and staged a brief sit-in in front of the college Shaheed Minar, joined by Dhaka College principal AKM Elius.
Dhaka College BCS General Education Association secretary and associate professor of sociology, Mohammad Dellur Rahman, said they were not against the idea of a university, but they had rejected the draft ordinance published on September 24.
鈥榃e actually support its establishment with the demand that it should be on a separate campus,鈥� he added.
The National University authorities also postponed Tuesday鈥檚 scheduled examinations.
Meanwhile, higher secondary-level students of Dhaka College along with students from other government colleges on Tuesday morning blocked the capital鈥檚 Science Laboratory crossing, protesting at the alleged assault of a higher-secondary level student and harassment of a teacher on Monday amid tensions over the proposed merger of seven government colleges into a new entity named Dhaka Central University.
They blocked the crossing at about 10:00am and Dhaka College principal AKM Elius at about 11:30am persuaded the students to withdraw the blockade.
Later, the students brought out a procession towards New Market.
The blockade caused a complete halt to traffic in the area, leading to severe congestion on Mirpur Road and adjoining streets.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Chattogram reported that examinations and classes at all government colleges in Chattogram remained suspended on Tuesday.
Abu Shahdat Didarul Alam Sajal Majumdar, executive member of the association鈥檚 Chattogram district unit, said teachers were present at their workplaces, but no classes or exams were held.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Rajshahi reported that no classes or examinations were held in any government colleges in Rajshahi city.
At Rajshahi College, the largest government college in the region, classrooms and exam halls remained empty throughout the day. Same situation was seen at Government Women鈥檚 College and Rajshahi New Government Degree College.
Amid the strike, many students who arrived from nearby upazilas, were seen returning home after finding their scheduled classes and exams suspended.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Sylhet reported that teachers of the government colleges in Sylhet, including at Murari Chand College, on Tuesday observed work abstention.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Rangpur reported that teachers of the government colleges in the district, including Government Carmichael College, observed strike.
The seven government colleges which will turn into a university are Dhaka College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls鈥� College, Eden Mahila College, Government Bangla College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Government Titumir College and Kabi Nazrul Government College.
The colleges were brought under Dhaka University in 2017 before which they were under National University.
Following a widespread student movement over deprivation of facilities, the Dhaka University authorities on January 27 decided to cancel their affiliation with these colleges.
A section of teachers and students of the colleges have been opposing the structure of proposed Dhaka Central University since the publication of the draft ordinance, sparking fresh protests over the issue.
