The nationalist Dhaka University (DU) teachers’ organization, Sada Dal (White Panel), has expressed deep concern and condemned the public harassment of a Chittagong University teacher.
In a statement issued on Sunday night, the White Panel said publicly humiliating, intimidating, or physically harassing a university teacher creates severe insecurity on campus and is unacceptable under any circumstances.
On Saturday, a teacher who came to Chittagong University to perform invigilation duties for the first-year undergraduate honours admission test was physically harassed and dragged to the proctor’s office.
Eyewitnesses said that around noon, the teacher was chased from the examination centre in front of the Law Faculty and taken away under the leadership of four Cucsu leaders.
The teacher, Hasan Mohammad, is an assistant professor of the Department of Law at Chittagong University and a former assistant proctor, and is associated with a section of the Yellow Panel, a platform of Awami League- and left-leaning teachers.
The White Panel said that if there are allegations against any teacher, those must be addressed strictly through legal and administrative processes, adding that the only acceptable path is investigation under the law, not mob justice.
The organisation demanded a swift and impartial investigation into the incident and legal action against those responsible.
White Panel leaders said similar incidents have previously taken place at Rajshahi University, Dhaka University, and other universities, which they believe is gradually undermining the academic environment.
The organisation also expressed concern that over the past three to four months, mob culture and incidents of teacher harassment have increased on campuses.
The White Panel said taking the law into one’s own hands is a punishable offence.
It also demanded swift legal action and the highest administrative measures against those who openly opposed the July 2024 movement and threatened or harassed protesting students.
“The real perpetrators must not remain beyond punishment for a long time, and no innocent person should be harassed in any way, even if they hold differing views,” the statement said.
