JU penalises 12 teachers over role in July Uprising attacks; 7 teachers cleared

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has imposed various punishments on 12 teachers and one official after finding evidence of their involvement in attacks on students during the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement in July 2024.

At the same time, the university cleared seven teachers and one official of the allegations due to a lack of evidence.

It also formed three separate committees to further investigate the roles of the then vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), and treasurer.

The decisions were taken at the end of a syndicate meeting that lasted nearly 13 hours, beginning at 4pm yesterday (15 June) and continuing until 5am today, based on the final report of an investigation committee.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan confirmed the decisions during a briefing at the Vice-Chancellor's Council Building.

The investigation covered 24 individuals, including 19 teachers aligned with the Awami League, two officials and three former administrative officials, over allegations of involvement in attacks on students on 14, 15 and 17 July 2024.

Teachers and official punished

Associate Professor Mehedi Iqbal of the Department of Geography and Environment was given compulsory retirement.

Assistant Professor Mohibur Rouf of the Department of Drama and Dramatics was demoted to lecturer and will be eligible to apply for promotion after two years.

Deputy Registrar Nahidur Rahman Khan was demoted to assistant registrar.

The salaries of Department of Government and Politics Professor Bashir Ahmed, Department of Statistics Professor Alamgir Kabir and Associate Professor ASM Firoz Ul Hasan, Department of Public Health and Informatics Professor Md Tajuddin Sikder, and Department of Drama and Dramatics Professor Esrafil Ahmed Rangan were reduced to the starting scale of their current positions.

They were also barred from holding administrative responsibilities for five years.

Former pro-vice-chancellor Professor Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz of the Department of Zoology had his salary reduced to the second grade and was barred from administrative responsibilities for five years.

The annual increments of Professor Nazmul Hasan Talukder of the Department of Bangla and Lecturer Kanon Kumar Sen of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems were suspended for two years, and their pay scales were lowered accordingly.

Associate Professor Hosne Ara of the Department of History received a warning. Professor AA Mamun of the Department of Physics was also warned and barred from administrative responsibilities for five years.

Teachers and official cleared

The syndicate exempted seven teachers and one official from the allegations, citing a lack of evidence and objective information.

Those cleared are Professor Jahirul Islam Khandaker of the Department of Physics, Professor Mohammad Saidur Rahman and Associate Professor Manir Uddin Sikder of the Department of Public Administration, Professor Mohammad Jahangir Alam of the Department of Economics, Professor Mohammad Anowar Khasru Parvez of the Department of Microbiology, Professor Shafi Mohammad Tareq of the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Assistant Registrar Rajib Chakraborty of the Education Branch.

Assistant Professor Palash Saha of the Institute of Business Administration was also cleared after allegations published in newspapers were found to be baseless. The university said the main complainant repeatedly failed to appear and provide testimony.

New investigations against former top officials

The university has formed three separate committees to investigate the then vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration) and treasurer.

According to the university administration, their names appeared in the findings of the initial fact-finding committee.

However, no formal charges were framed against them by the previous structured committee.

Vice-Chancellor Kamrul Ahsan said the decision was taken unanimously to ensure legal equality and complete justice.

"These decisions have been taken following lengthy discussions and scrutiny based on the report of the investigation committee formed on 17 March 2025. Hundreds of hours were spent over a long period, with 18 to 26 meetings held separately for each accused, so that we do not cross the boundaries of justice under any circumstances," he said.

He added that the syndicate prioritised ensuring that no innocent person was punished and no offender escaped accountability.

The vice-chancellor said the structured committees had originally framed charges against 19 teachers and two officials based on the findings of the fact-finding committee.

The latest decisions were taken after reviewing the recommendations submitted by those committees.

He said the roles of the then vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration) and treasurer had also emerged during the investigation, prompting the syndicate to form separate committees to examine each case.