A group comprising 101 teachers from Chittagong University (CU) have raised concerns over the selective dissemination of certain portions of a speech made by CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Shamim Uddin Khan during an event commemorating Martyred Intellectuals Day. They assert that this selective circulation is causing confusion among the public.
In a joint statement, the teachers denounced the divisive practice of labeling individuals as pro- or anti-Liberation War, which they described as harmful political maneuvering. They emphasized that presenting the history of the Liberation War in the context of specific individuals, groups, or political entities distorts historical facts.
The teachers highlighted the historical manipulation of the Liberation War narrative through authoritarian control in the past and expressed concern that similar divisive tactics are being employed today by assigning pro- and anti-Liberation War labels. They expressed confidence in the rejection of such divisive politics by the people of Bangladesh.
The statement addressed the deliberate dissemination of confusion by a specific group through selective sharing of Prof Shamim’s statements, despite clarifications issued by the university administration. The teachers clarified that the Pro-VC did not undermine the significance of the martyred intellectuals’ killings but rather emphasized the necessity for evidence-based research on the nature and planning of these tragic events.
Furthermore, the teachers referenced the Indian army’s entry into Bangladesh on December 3, 1971, amid the retreat of Pakistani forces. They pointed to allegations of looting by Indian forces under the “Allied Forces” banner and attributed the responsibility for the killings of intellectuals, including Zahir Raihan, to the Awami League.
In light of these events, the teachers called for the establishment of an independent commission to uncover the true motives behind the intellectuals’ killings on the cusp of victory in 1971 and to identify those accountable. They strongly condemned individuals who sow division by propagating pro- and anti-Liberation War sentiments instead of engaging in factual historical research, labeling them as proponents of Indian influence and followers of the deposed “Awami-Baksali” regime.
The statement was signed by prominent faculty members from various departments at CU, including Prof Dr Ismat Ara Haque, Prof Dr Rezaul Azim, Dr Md Shahidul Haque, Prof Muhammad Nezam Uddin, Prof Mohammad Shahab Uddin, Prof Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Prof Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Prof Md Imam Hossain, Prof Dr Bayezid Mahmud Khan, Prof Dr Md Abdullah Al Masum, Prof Mohammad Selim Jahangir, and Prof Dr Kazi Ashrafuzzaman.
The controversy stemmed from a discussion held at the CU VC’s conference room on the 54th Martyred Intellectuals’ Day, where Prof Shamim expressed disbelief at the notion of Pakistani fighters targeting Bangladeshi intellectuals during the Liberation War.