DU forms 3 probe committees to investigate 3 DUCSU incidents
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Amid controversy surrounding the placement of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portraits inside the DUCSU museum, the Dhaka University administration has formed three separate investigation committees.
In addition to the inclusion of Pakistan's founder Jinnah's portraits, the committees will investigate the unauthorized launch of a teacher evaluation website and the unapproved construction of a campus monument.
Following daylong controversy, the university's Public Relations Office announced the formation of these three inquiry panels in a press release on Monday (September 14) evening.
The committees have been instructed to submit their investigation reports along with recommendations within seven working days. Based on these reports, the university authorities will determine their next course of action.
Under the initiative of the Islami Chhatra Shibir-led Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), a monument titled 'Nirbheek July' was recently erected on the west side of the DUCSU building near the Arts Bhaban. DUCSU also launched a teacher evaluation website.
Neither initiative received prior authorization from the university administration, though no immediate action had been taken at the time.
However, criticism escalated after the renovated DUCSU museum reopened on Sunday, revealing that prominent portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been removed while three photographs of Muhammad Ali Jinnah were displayed.
The move sparked widespread outrage from various organizations, including the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). Later, a former student entered the DUCSU museum, removed Jinnah's portraits from their frames, and tore them apart.
Following these events, the Dhaka University administration decided to launch formal inquiries into all three matters.
According to the press release, the university administration constituted three separate committees to investigate the launch of the teacher evaluation website, the unapproved monument construction, and the display of portraits of Jinnah and Abdul Malek—a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha (the predecessor of Chhatra Shibir) who died in 1969—inside the museum.
The probe into the teacher evaluation website will be headed by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Almujaddede Alfesane.
The six-member panel includes the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), the Dean of the Faculty of Law, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, and the Director of IQAC, with the University Registrar serving as member secretary.
Professor Dr. Almujaddede Alfesane will also head the five-member committee investigating the monument's construction. Its members include the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, and the University Proctor, with the Estate Manager acting as member secretary.
Additionally, Dr. Almujaddede will lead the five-member panel probing the display of portraits of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Chhatrasangha leader Abdul Malek in the museum.
This five-member committee includes the Dean of the Faculty of Law, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, and the Proctor, with the Estate Manager also serving as member secretary.
