Md. Hamidur Rahman Limon, Crime Reporter:
A controversy has erupted over the committee formed to celebrate the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair, which is being held for the first time under the supervision of the administration of Begum Rokeya University (BEROBI) in Rangpur. Teachers and students who participated in the July movement have expressed anger over the inclusion of Dr. Apel Mahmud, the founding president of the university's pro-Awami League teachers' organization Nildal and former Chhatra League leader, Professor of Accounting and Information Systems Department, in the committee.
It is known that Dr. Apel Mahmud, known as a staunch Awami League teacher at the university, was active in the politics of the Mohsin Hall branch of Dhaka University during his student life. After being appointed as a teacher on the campus, he founded the Blue Party in 2014 and became its president. He then became the general secretary of the party and is currently an executive member. He also won the Teachers' Association election in 2023 from the Blue Party panel.
The teacher was the vice-president of Bangabandhu Parishad, controlled by Mashiur Rahman, a mathematics teacher who is one of the accused in the Abu Sayeed murder case. The inclusion of Dr. Apel Mahmud, a staunch Awami League teacher, as a member of the Abu Sayeed Book Fair committee has sparked a storm of criticism among university teachers and students.
Upon investigation, it was learned that in the last three months, this teacher has been placed on several important committees, including the university's vehicle purchase committee, dormitory allocation committee, house allocation policy review committee, admission management committee, calendar printing committee, and annual leave determination committee at the university.
Several teachers and officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that whenever they went to the VC's office for an urgent need, they saw Dr. Apel Mahmud sitting there. Several BNP-supporting teachers and officials said that they were put in an embarrassing situation by such radical pro-Awami fascist teachers sitting for hours in the VC's office.
In this regard, BNP-supporting teacher and proctor at the university Dr. Ferdous Rahman said, 'Before the new vice-chancellor joined, a list of names of three teachers of their choice from each department was taken from the students. These names were taken with the aim of who could run the university. Since his name was given by the students, we have nothing more to say here.'
Al Amin, convener of the Berobi branch of the Chhatra Dal, said, "We have learned that the book fair is being organized by the administration and that it is being led by the leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement. We are disappointed that despite being in the leadership there, a pro-Awami teacher is on that committee. This is a betrayal of the blood of Abu Sayeed. If the university administration starts rehabilitating pro-Awami teachers in this way, it will lose the trust of the students. We are very disappointed to see such actions of the administration."
Arman, the Berobi representative of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said, "We made a draft and gave a list at the beginning. We did not cross-check it. Now if he had previously joined the Awami League, we will ask the administration to exclude him."
When asked about this, Professor Dr. Apel Mahmud admitted to being in the Blue Party and Bangabandhu Parishad and said, 'I was given the responsibility but I did not ask for it. My promotion was withheld in the previous administration. When I was promoted, they came after me again. And the university was established during the Awami League. So, except for two or three, all the remaining teachers are Awami League supporters.'
In this regard, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali told the media that his name (Apel Mahmud) was given by the students of his department. Now there is no party like Awami League, BNP, Jamaat. Politics is banned on campus. And how many people will you find on campus except Awami League supporters. The Awami League government has been in power since the establishment of the university. Now I have to work with everyone.
When asked why such a controversial teacher with a position is repeatedly placed on the committee, he added, "Apel Mahmud is a hardworking, working person. Working people can be placed on 10 or 20 committees. Those who don't get work, don't get benefits, they are now talking about these things."
According to university sources, as per the decision of the 110th syndicate of the university, the university administration has decided to organize the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair every year from now on. The five-day book fair is scheduled to be held from February 18 to February 23. On February 9, the university administration formed a 7-member committee with Dr. Ilias Pramanik, advisor for student welfare and counseling, as the convener, to organize the book fair.
