CU teacher Maidul put on three-day remand

A Chattogram court yesterday granted three-day remand against Chittagong University (CU) teacher Maidul Islam, in connection with a case filed under section 57 of ICT Act for his alleged defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on social media.

Judge Shahidullah Kaiser of Senior Judicial Magistrate's court-1 passed the remand order, after he was produced before the court by police with a five-day remand prayer, said the plaintiff's lawyer Bhulan Lal Vowmik, reports our CU correspondent.

On July 24, former CU unit BCL leader Md Ifterkhat Uddin Ayaz lodged a case against Maidul, an assistant professor of CU's sociology department. Maidul was granted bail from the High Court  in the case on August 6.

On September 24, Maidul was sent to jail after he surrendered before a Chattogram court on completion of his eight-week bail, and was suspended from CU a day later.

BCL men of CU unit had also lodged a complaint against Maidul to the department chairperson, and submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor against two teachers of the university -- Maidul and Khandakar Ali Ar Raji, a teacher of CU's Communication and Journalism department.

The BCL men have also announced the teachers “unwelcome” on campus.

The university formed a three-member probe committee to investigate into these allegations, against Maidul and Ali Ar Raji.

However, Maidul maintains that he never wrote derogatory remarks against the premier.

JU TEACHERS PROTEST MAIDUL'S REMAND

In an immediate reaction to the news, a number of teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) observed their admission test duties covering their mouths with black cloth, protesting Maidul Islam's remand.

Under the banner of “Protesting teachers of JU”, they also gathered in front of the social science building and held a short rally around 6:00pm. Both pro-Awami League and pro-BNP teachers were seen taking part at the rally, reports our JU correspondent. “Everyone, irrespective of disagreements in opinions and ideologies, should protest the government's oppression on dissent,” said Prof Sayeed Ferdous of anthropology department.

“We cannot remain silent in this situation, when one of our fellows is arrested, handcuffed and placed on remand,” said Prof Shamsul Alam Selim of government and politics department.

Prof Ainoon Naher and Prof Mirza Taslima Sultana of anthropology, Prof. Nurul Islam of geography and environment, Md Ashraful Munim and Shormind Neelormi of economics took part in the programme, among others.