DU observes Black Day with due solemnity

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DHAKA, Sept 3, 2018 (BSS) – The Dhaka University (DU) authorities today
observed “Black Day” marking the countrywide atrocities and repression on the
university’s teachers, students and officials from August 20 to 23 in 2007
during the caretaker government regime.

DU students and teachers wore black badges and all classes were suspended
from 11 am to 1 pm.

A discussion was held at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) auditorium with DU
Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.

While addressing the discussion, Prof Akhtaruzzaman said: “History has
continuity and this discussion is needed so that the new generation can
reminisce those days. Some residential students were brutally tortured and
four teachers were arrested on that day. Dhaka University has a history to
speak vigorously and systematically against autocratic point of views or
undemocratic manners”.

DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Dr Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Prof
Kamal Uddin, Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association
(DUTA) president Prof Dr Maksud Kamal and its general secretary Prof Dr
Shibli Rubaiyat Ul Islam, among others, spoke at the meeting.

A human chain was also held at DU Aparejeyo Bangla premises demanding the
trial of the culprits who brought out the heinous attack on students and
teachers.

On August 20 in 2007, a violent clash was brought out between some DU
students and members of Bangladesh Army cantering a football match at central
playground of DU. The military members severely beat up the students.

Thousands of DU students took to the streets protesting the incident and
demanded withdrawal of the army camp from DU gymnasium and an apology from
the troops.

The protest afterwards spread to all the educational institutions across
the country.

Following the clash, the then army-backed caretaker government imposed a
curfew on the divisional cities and later arrested four DU teachers – Prof Dr
Anwar Hossain, Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid and Prof Dr Neem
Chandra Bhowmick – and several students, and tortured them on August 23.

The attack sparked huge protest by the students against the army across
the country. Since then, the university observes the Black Day every year on
August 23. But, the DU authorities observed the day today as the university
was closed due to the holy Eid-ul-Azha vacation on August 23.