Sada Dal condemns alleged use of Teachers’ Association banner at Shaheed Minar

The Sada Dal, a pro-BNP teachers’ organisation at Dhaka University, has strongly condemned use of the banner of Dhaka University Teachers' Association to pay tribute at the Central Shaheed Minar, alleging that those involved have no moral or legal standing to do so.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Sada Dal Convener Prof Morshed Hasan Khan, Joint Convener Prof Abdus Salam and Prof Md Abul Kalam Sarkar expressed “strong condemnation and protest” over the incident.

According to the statement, a group of teachers placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the name of the Teachers’ Association to honour the language martyrs.

However, the Sada Dal claimed that the association currently has no effective committee and has been rejected by the majority of teachers following the July 2024 mass uprising.

The leaders argued that organising any programme under the banner of the Teachers’ Association in its present state is “immoral and presumptuous”.

They maintained that those presenting themselves as leaders of the association lack both moral and legal legitimacy.

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The statement further alleged that during the July uprising, the individuals concerned opposed the movement and played a controversial role in the political situation at the time.

It also claimed that after the political change on 5 August 2024, the group in question has been identified among ordinary teachers and students as aligned with the previous regime.

The university administration has reportedly formed a high-level investigation committee against them, and the inquiry is ongoing.

As a preliminary measure, several of them have allegedly been barred from academic and administrative activities.

In this context, Sada Dal leaders said there is no scope for conducting any activity in the name or under the banner of the Teachers’ Association until the investigation concludes and a valid committee is formed.

They urged the university administration to take exemplary punitive action against those found responsible, based on the findings of the investigation committee.

They also called for effective measures to prevent political activities by any controversial teacher or organisation in what they described as the university’s sensitive and prestigious spaces.

In the concluding part of the statement, the Sada Dal leaders warned that they would not tolerate any activities by what they termed opponents of the July mass uprising or supporters of the fallen fascist government.