CU teacher freed from 9-hr confinement after harassment by CUCSU leaders

Chittagong University’s law faculty member Hasan Muhammad was released from his confinement at the Administrative Building around 9pm Saturday, almost nine hours after he was forcibly dragged to the facility for allegedly being a “pro-Awami League” teacher.

He left the building, and subsequently the campus, on the proctor’s car around 9pm.

Around 12pm, around four leaders of the university’s central student union (CUCSU) forcibly dragged Hasan to the building from his site of duty.

Hasan, an assistant professor of law and also a former assistant proctor, was involved with a faction of teachers’ group that supports the leftists and Awami League, now a banned political party.

On Saturday, while supervising the exams, some on-duty teachers and staffers urged him to take caution as something unnatural was about to happen to him. Hearing this, Hasan Muhammad left the exam centre.

At one point, four CUCSU leaders saw him leaving the exam centre and chased him, forcing him to run. The CUCSU leaders caught up with him and dragged him along the ground using brute force. Hasan was dragged to the offices of the vice chancellor and proctor.

Later, a brief video of the incident surfaced on facebook.

The CUCSU leaders and proctorial team members also screened the mobile handset of Hasan.

CUCSU Law Affairs Secretary Fazle Rabbi Tauhid, Office Secretary Abdulllah Al Noman, Library-cafeteria secretary Masum Billah and Executive Committee member Sohanur Rahman took part in the teacher’s harassment, among others.

However, Fazle Rabbi and Abdullah Al Noman have denied physically harassing the teacher, who they alleged acted against the interests of July Uprising last year. Hasan Muhammad has denied he took any action against the uprising, which was waged in July-August last year against his preferred political and then the ruling party – Awami League.

A university probe is underway against the teacher.

Fazle Rabbi and Abdullah Al Noman said they only went near the exam centre to demand explanation for the appointment of a “fascist teacher” in the middle of a probe against him. Hasan saw the CUCSU leaders approaching and tried to flee hastily by himself, Fazle Rabbi and Abdullah Al Noman claimed.

The entry exam coordinator and university registrar have given conflicting accounts on whether Hasan can continue his regular duties while a probe continues against him.