Six Dhaka University Assistant Proctors Resign Following Administration’s Request

Three teachers at the University of Dhaka (DU) have resigned from their positions as assistant proctors, while three others may step down by Thursday (November 12). All six were appointed during the interim government following the July mass uprising and were reportedly asked by the university administration to leave their posts.

The three teachers who resigned on Wednesday are Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Rafiqul Islam of the Department of Arabic, Lecturer Atia Sanzida Sharmi of the Department of Zoology, and Associate Professor Muhammad Mahbub Kaisar of the Department of Sociology. They submitted their resignation letters to the vice-chancellor through Proctor Associate Professor Md Israfil Prang.

The other three assistant proctors who may resign by Thursday are Associate Professor Sharmin Kabir of the Institute of Education and Research, Assistant Professor Rezaul Karim Sohag of the Department of Criminology, and Assistant Professor Jahangir Alam of the Department of Management Information Systems (MIS).

Several of the six assistant proctors are reportedly teachers aligned with Jamaat-e-Islami. At least two of them confirmed their resignations. Although they cited personal reasons in their resignation letters, they told The Daily Campus that the proctor had asked them to step down, citing what they described as pressure from the “higher authorities” on him. They said the six had therefore decided to resign.

One teacher said he had resigned for personal reasons and wanted to devote more time to academic work, avoiding the issue of political pressure. Another said the decision was politically motivated, adding that they had been asked to leave through the proctor.

The Daily Campus called DU Proctor Associate Professor Md Israfil Prang several times for comment, but he did not answer.

Asked about the reasons for the resignations, DU Vice-Chancellor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam said the teachers had cited personal reasons and that he was unaware of any other explanation.

“I know they are citing personal reasons. Apart from that, I have no other information. So far, I have received only one resignation letter and sent it to the registrar,” he said.

Asked whether there was pressure from the higher authorities, the vice-chancellor said he had no information suggesting that such pressure existed.