DU White Panel teachers demand trial of pro-AL faculty for ‘facilitating July atrocities’
“Not only did they [pro-AL teachers] support the shootings on 3 August 2025, they encouraged it. We all know who they are. But so far, the authorities have not yet taken any action against them," claims Arts Faculty Dean Prof Siddiqur Rahman Khan
Dhaka University (DU) teachers from the pro-BNP White Panel have demanded that the pro-Awami League (AL) faculty members of the Blue Panel be prosecuted for purportedly supporting state violence during last year's July Uprising.
At a human chain in front of the Arts Building today (13 July), White Panel Convener Prof Morshed Hasan Khan accused some DU teachers of backing the fallen Sheikh Hasina-led government's use of deadly force against the protesting students and people.
He alleged some of these teachers went as far as giving a "blank cheque" to the now-tumbled government to carry out the crackdown.
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Morshed questioned why the Blue Panel members failed to speak out against state brutality when their students were being assaulted and killed.
He claimed the teachers involved are clearly identifiable in video and media reports from that period and urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to bring them to justice.
"They stood at Ganabhaban and encouraged indiscriminate firing. The evidence is clear," he alleged.
Arts Faculty Dean Prof Siddiqur Rahman Khan said that Hasina personally ordered the use of lethal force in July. He also cited international media reports alongside the UN OHCHR report to claim that the incident amounted to a state-led massacre.
"Not only did they [pro-AL teachers] support the shootings on 3 August 2025, they encouraged it. We all know who they are. But so far, the authorities have not yet taken any action against them," he claimed.
White Panel's Treasurer Prof Al-Amin echoed these demands, alleging that a network of faculty members helped facilitate the crackdown by coordinating with the then authorities and using former DU vice chancellor Maksud Kamal's residence as an operational base.
He noted that they have three lists of over 70 teachers boycotted by students and claimed these same individuals are now trying to rebrand themselves under new academic platforms.
Several other senior faculty members, including deans and former chairpersons, joined the human chain and criticised the DU administration for failing to take disciplinary action against the pro-AL teachers and called for immediate intervention.
