A legal notice has been served on Asaduzzaman Fuaad, the general secretary of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, demanding the withdrawal of his controversial comments regarding Dhaka University (DU) and an unconditional apology.
The notice, which also seeks Tk100 crore in compensation, was sent via email by Tonoy Kumar Saha, a Supreme Court lawyer and former student of the DU Law Department. Copies of the notice were also dispatched to the Education Secretary, the Home Secretary, and the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University.
According to the notice, Fuaad made “derogatory, malicious, and defamatory” remarks about the university during a discussion titled “Awakening of Bengali Muslims and Dhaka University” held at the DUCSU office on Wednesday. During the event, he reportedly said, “Dhaka University has created all the fascists, touts, and criminals of Bangladesh.”
The legal notice claims that such remarks have tarnished the long-standing historical reputation of the university at both national and international levels. Furthermore, it asserted that the comments have caused significant public anger and mental distress among current and former students of the institution.
The notice has called for three specific actions to be taken within 72 hours.
First, the initiation of appropriate legal and administrative measures against Asaduzzaman Fuaad; second, the unconditional withdrawal of the statement made on Wednesday and a public apology to Dhaka University through electronic, print, and social media platforms; and third, the payment of Tk100 crore into the Dhaka University Research Fund as exemplary and punitive compensation for damaging the institution’s reputation, with the funds to be utilised for academic development and national prosperity.
The notice further warned that if these demands are not met or if no visible action is taken within the stipulated 72 hours, a writ petition will be filed in the High Court.
Speaking on Saturday, lawyer Tonoy Kumar Saha confirmed that the legal notice had been sent last Thursday.
