3 KU teachers sacked for supporting students’ protest

For supporting a protest of the students last year, an assistant professor of Khulna University (KU) has been dismissed and two other lecturers have been terminated.
 
The 212nd syndicate meeting of the university took the decision on Saturday, as the three reportedly did not offer an apology for their role.
 
Several allegations, including disobedience, misbehavior, anti-administration activities have been substantiated against them, said a university source.  
 
The dismissed teacher is Md Abul Fazal, assistant professor of Bangla Department while the removed teachers are – Shakila Alam, a lecturer of the same department and Haimanti Shukla, lecturer at History and Civilization discipline.
 
As per the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, if any government official or employee is permanently suspended or dismissed, he or she will be deemed disqualified for future employment to any other government service or in any organization established under other acts.  
 
However, there is no restriction for reemployment in case of removal from any government job.
 
According to university sources, the students staged a protest programme on the campus on 1 and 2 January last year, to press home their five-point demand including reduction of tuition fees and solution to the accommodation crisis.
 
Around nine months later on 13 October, the university administration served the three teachers with show-cause notices for allegedly instigating the students and asked them to respond within the next three working days, according to a Prothom Alo report.
 
The trio followed the authorities' instructions, but they were served fresh show-cause notices on 23 November.
 
On the next day, the university administration formed an investigation committee to take care of the issue.
 
Later, the authorities issued letters to the three on 7 December and asked them to appear before the committee and help prepare the probe report.
 
As per the probe report, the 211st syndicate meeting decided to take action against them on 18 January.
 
The registrar's office issued an office order to the three teachers and asked them to explain why they should not be dismissed and removed permanently. They responded to the order on 21 January.
 
However, the trio did not offer an apology regretting their activities in the response, said university sources.
 
After scrutinising the overall development, the 212th syndicate meeting took the final decision on Saturday.
 
Regarding the syndicate decision, Assistant Professor Abul Fazal said they will take necessary steps against the decision once they get the documents.
 
He also alleged that they had not been cooperated in the whole process since the formation of the investigation committee.
 
Even they made a formal request to avail the investigation report, but it was not approved.
 
They brought a no-confidence motion against the investigation committee, which was also not taken into account.