DU acting director confined in his office
DU Correspondent :
The acting director of the Institute of Modern Languages (IML) at the University of Dhaka was confined for several hours on Tuesday as a group of students demanded the reinstatement of a former director who had been relieved of his duties over his controversial role during the July mass uprising.
The incident took place on Tuesday (January 27), when a section of students from the English Language Department began a sit-in in front of the acting director’s office around 11:30am, confining Acting Director Professor Absar Kamal until around 4:00pm. The students chanted slogans demanding the return of former IML director Professor Saidur Rahman. Professor Kamal was later freed with the assistance of the university’s proctorial body.
According to teachers and students of the institute, Professor Saidur Rahman—known as a pro-Awami League, Blue Panel-affiliated teacher and a close associate of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Maksud Kamal—was relieved of his duties following student protests after August 5, 2024. His removal was part of a university decision, and an investigation committee was formed to probe allegations against him.
Sources further claimed that the protest was carried out at the instruction of the former director, leading to disorder within the institute.
However, students from other departments of the institute reportedly did not support the protest.
A teacher of the institute, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Professor Saidur Rahman had been removed following student movements and a formal investigation process.
“This was entirely a university decision. There was no justification for protesting against the current acting director. The institute has been facing unrest for quite some time due to this issue,” the teacher added.
The university’s proctor office stated that they intervened after receiving information that the acting director had been confined. “We rescued him and will take action against those involved. The matter will also be reported to the university administration,” the office said.
Meanwhile, students of the English Language Department submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor, claiming that misunderstandings had led to injustice against their respected teacher.
They highlighted severe academic disruptions caused by a shortage of qualified teachers, particularly affecting research, thesis supervision, and teaching practicum courses.
The memorandum also cited broader problems across language departments, including delays in hiring part-time teachers, late semester starts, incomplete syllabi, and classroom shortages.
Responding to the incident, Acting Director Professor Absar Kamal said Professor Saidur Rahman had been relieved following student-led protests during the July uprising and remained barred from academic and administrative duties pending an ongoing investigation.
He said students demanded access to a confidential opinion letter he had sent to the Vice-Chancellor regarding their application. “I clearly told them that I cannot share or read out a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor. That is when they confined me,” he said.