The University of Dhaka (DU) administration has called upon students to maintain communal harmony in their social media and personal conduct.
The authorities stated that the statements, comments, opinions, pictures, etc, of some students on social media are “disparaging” and “disrespectful” towards individuals’ religion, beliefs, and culture.
A notice issued by the Public Relations Office on Saturday said, “Such behaviour is also being observed at the individual level outside of social media, which is highly condemnable and undesirable.”
Therefore, the authorities “will not hesitate to take strict measures to prevent any such activities.”
“Spreading hatred and hostility by mocking religions, cultures, and rituals is a crime. There are prescribed penalties for such offenses at the university level and for the situations arising from them. We are firmly committed to protecting the peace and order of the university and maintaining a conducive educational environment.”
It went on to say, “In Bangladesh, people of various religions, races, and ethnicities have been living together with great harmony and empathy for a long time. Mutual respect and an attitude of harmony are important hallmarks of any conscientious person and good citizen. The expectations of the country’s people in this regard are even higher from the students of the University of Dhaka. Just as we take pride in the contributions of Dhaka University students during times of national crisis, we similarly wish to take pride in them setting an example of communal harmony.”
