Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Eminent academician, Ekushey Padak, and Independence Award laureate Dr. Sukomal Barua has expressed deep concern and sharp condemnation over the ongoing conspiracy and death threats targeted at renowned academic Dr. Dipu Siddiqui.
In a statement, Dr. Barua, a supernumerary professor at Dhaka University, emphasized that teachers form the backbone of a nation, expressing regret that the education sector and the teaching community are currently being compromised in various ways.
“A certain quarter has been spreading malicious propaganda and conspiring against Professor Dr. Dipu Siddiqui, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Royal University of Dhaka. I strongly condemn these actions,” Dr. Barua said.
Describing Dr. Siddiqui as an exceptionally talented, humble, and wise educator, Dr. Barua noted that he has been teaching at the Royal University of Dhaka with distinction for over a decade. He has served in multiple key administrative roles with integrity and competence, earning high praise from the university administration for his dedication to his professional duties.
Beyond his academic career, Dr. Siddiqui is widely recognized as a prominent columnist and essayist. His writings consistently advocate for justice, peace, and high moral standards, with a notable focus on nurturing positive values and character development among the youth.
Dr. Barua voiced deep regret over how a localized group has been using unruly youths and former students to orchestrate defamatory and hateful campaigns against Dr. Siddiqui on social media. “He is even receiving death threats, which is completely unacceptable in any civilized society,” the statement read.
Expressing grave concern over the confinement of faculty members, Dr. Barua pointed out that under the pretext of discussions regarding the university convocation, individuals had locked the campus gates, confined the Vice-Chancellor, the Controller of Examinations, and senior faculty members, and attempted to assault them.
“If there are legitimate grievances, the university has proper administrative committees to investigate them. Resorting to ‘mob culture’ to humiliate teachers and disrupt the academic environment for regular students is a severe violation of the law. We are deeply alarmed by the recurrence of such incidents,” he added.
He firmly stated that “mob violence” will not be tolerated on university campuses, urging those involved in disrupting the academic atmosphere and threatening Professor Siddiqui to desist immediately. Otherwise, he warned, the perpetrators must be swiftly identified and brought to justice to face exemplary punishment.
Dr. Barua called upon the government to take a strict stance against those creating anarchy in educational institutions. He expressed confidence that the University Board of Trustees, the current administration, and law enforcement agencies will provide the necessary support to ensure the safety and security of educators.