Bangladesh News

Families of the detained teachers and a student expressed satisfaction over their acquittal, demanding their immediate release and withdrawal of all cases for maintaining a congenial academic atmosphere on the campus.

The families of the four teachers told The Daily Star yesterday’s verdict proved the Dhaka University faculty members were detained for five months for doing nothing wrong.

A Dhaka court yesterday acquitted four DU teachers and 11 students of the charges of breaching the Emergency Power Rule. The court however jailed four absconding students for two years who later in the afternoon were given presidential mercy.

Prof Sadrul Amin, president of DU Teachers’ Association (Duta), Prof Anwar Hossain, Duta general secretary, Prof Harun-or-Rashid, dean of Social Sciences Faculty, and Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik, chairman of physics, electronics and communication engineering department, and student Moniruzzaman Sardar were not released, as verdict in another case against them is due today.

Family members of the five detainees rushed to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka to meet them after the verdict was delivered.

Prof Ayesha Akhter, wife of Prof Anwar, said: “We’re happy with the verdict; it proved that the teachers did not commit any crime.”

She expects the verdict in the other case will also be positive. “But for the sake of a congenial atmosphere on the campus, all must be released and the cases be cancelled.”

Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik’s wife Manika Bhowmik said justice has won through the verdict. She is also optimistic about today’s verdict.

Ishtiaque Rashid and Barnaly Rashid, son and daughter of Prof Harun-or-Rashid, went to meet their father. Ishtiaque said they knew their father was innocent and did not commit any offence. “We were confident that truth will come out and that has happened today,” he said.

Tahmina Begum and Nuruzzaman, mother and brother of Moniruzzaman, who arrived in the court from Chandpur, said they want to get him back home.