The Dhaka University (DU) authorities today (3 september) observed “Black Day” marking the countrywide atrocities and repression on the university’s teachers, students and officials from August 20 to 23 in 2007 during the caretaker government regime.
DU students and teachers wore black badges and all classes were suspended from 11 am to 1 pm.
A discussion was held at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) auditorium with DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
While addressing the discussion, Prof Akhtaruzzaman said: “History has continuity and this discussion is needed so that the new generation can reminisce those days. Some residential students were brutally tortured and
four teachers were arrested on that day. Dhaka University has a history to speak vigorously and systematically against autocratic point of views or undemocratic manners”.
DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Dr Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Prof Kamal Uddin, Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) president Prof Dr Maksud Kamal and its general secretary Prof Dr Shibli Rubaiyat Ul Islam, among others, spoke at the meeting.
A human chain was also held at DU Aparejeyo Bangla premises demanding the trial of the culprits who brought out the heinous attack on students and teachers.
On August 20 in 2007, a violent clash was brought out between some DU students and members of Bangladesh Army cantering a football match at central playground of DU. The military members severely beat up the students.
Thousands of DU students took to the streets protesting the incident and demanded withdrawal of the army camp from DU gymnasium and an apology from the troops.
The protest afterwards spread to all the educational institutions across the country.
Following the clash, the then army-backed caretaker government imposed a curfew on the divisional cities and later arrested four DU teachers – Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid and Prof Dr Neem Chandra Bhowmick – and several students, and tortured them on August 23.
The attack sparked huge protest by the students against the army across the country. Since then, the university observes the Black Day every year on August 23. But, the DU authorities observed the day today as the university was closed due to the holy Eid-ul-Azha vacation on August 23.
Source: BSS
