Comilla University yesterday sent a teacher on a month's forced leave after the university Chhatra League unit demanded his suspension for “holding classes on the National Mourning Day”.

The university yesterday sent Mahbubul Huq Bhuiyan, a lecturer and acting chairman of department of mass communication and journalism, on leave and formed a probe body to investigate the allegation.

The pro-Awami League student body had been demonstrating for two days on campus and had locked the gates of administrative and academic buildings.

Following the decision made by the university in the afternoon, Chhatra League unlocked the gates and withdrew their agitation programme.

However, around 50 teachers of the Comilla University Teachers Association and Bangabandhu Parishad staged a sit-in in front of the Bangabandhu Sculpture in the afternoon protesting the university's decision to send the teacher on leave.

They also blocked the vehicle of Vice-Chancellor Prof Ali Ashraf as he was leaving the office in the evening.

University sources said 14 to 15 students of the mass communication and journalism department went to Mahbubul's room to discuss something about their upcoming exams. The teacher took them to a classroom since he could not accommodate them in his room, they said.

At that time, the Chhatra League leaders went to the classroom and made a video clip. They submitted a memorandum to the VC on Wednesday and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to suspend the teacher, said the sources.

On Wednesday morning, the Chhatra League leaders padlocked the three academic buildings and an administrative building.

No classes or exams could be held.

Illias Mia, president of the Chhatra League's university unit, said Mahbubul held a class on August 15 “showing utter disrespect and disregard towards the Father of the Nation”.

"As the university authorities took the decision [to punish the teacher], we withdrew our movement," he said.

Mahbubul Huq Bhuiyan said he was not taking any formal class that day. As the students requested him to explain something, he just asked them to go to a classroom near the teachers' room, he added.

“As there were some other guests of other teachers, I told the students to go to a room and was explaining a matter. It was not any formal class. Their semester final exams were going on and we have already taken one exam. There was no scope for taking classes then,” Mahbubul said.

He also said forcing him to go on leave without investigating was unjust.

Sources said the decision went against the teacher as the university authorities did not like his firm stance against different irregularities at the institution.

Kazi Mohammad Kamal Uddin, proctor of the university, said the four-member probe body, led by Mosleh Uddin, a senior syndicate member, was asked to submit its report as soon as possible.

The VC could not be reached for comments.

PROTEST AT DU

Former and current students of Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism department yesterday formed a human chain at Aparajeyo Bangla protesting the “false allegations” brought against Mahbubul.

The protest around 11:00am was organised under the banner of former and present students of the department, reports our DU correspondent.

Many teachers and media personalities took part.

The speakers at a rally held afterwards said the allegation of taking a class on the National Mourning Day was “false” as the classes of the students' batch in question had been suspended a long time ago for their final exams.

They said Mahbubul was a victim of conspiracy.