A professor in the sociology department of Dhaka University, has allegedly suspended a student from the department's debating club for participating in the quota reform movement and threatened to file a contempt of court case against those involved.
The student, Mosharraf Hossen, is a fourth-year student from the 2019-20 academic session and was nominated as the general secretary of the department’s debating club earlier this year.
Students of the department also alleged that Prof Abul Kashem Mohammad Jamal Uddin threatened that those involved in such “controversial” activities would never be able to serve as class representatives or hold positions in any committee linked with the sociology department.
Following Mosharraf's suspension, 45 out of the 71 committee members resigned in protest.
In a leaked screenshot, the professor allegedly ordered students to post a poster on their Facebook timelines, threatening that “if the post is not found on any student’s FB timeline, I will not say anything now. But it will be reflected in the exam results.”
When contacted, Mosharraf said, “I have been suspended from the general secretary post because of my association with the quota reformation movement and my posts about the movement on Facebook. The moderator of the organisation, AKM Jamal Uddin sir, made this decision unilaterally without following any rules.”
He added, “Moreover, he also threatened to file a contempt of court case in the department's messenger group. I’m neither afraid nor worried about this. I am boldly expressing my support for the quota movement. I will stand with my fellow activists until our demands are met.”
Other committee members confirmed the suspension and threats.
Despite several attempts to reach AKM Jamal Uddin by phone, he did not respond to calls.
On June 26, during the annual senate meeting of Dhaka University, Professor Jamal expressed his support for the freedom fighter quota system in government jobs, citing a reference from the Quran.
He indicated that freedom fighters were the sole victors of the country, insisting on maintaining a 30 per cent quota for them in government jobs. He referenced Sura Anfal, stating, “Those who win will be the owners of eighty per cent of the wealth, jobs, and land of the country. The remaining will be for others.”
