By all, for all. Bangladesh University Teachers Network has written an open letter to the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government to clarify how the much desired 'inclusive society' will be ensured. Professor Giti Ara Nasrin of Dhaka University read the letter in front of the journalists on Saturday. Talking about themselves in the letter, the teachers wrote, 'For the past decade, through this network, we teachers of various universities have taken a strong stand against various injustices, oppression and authoritarianism. I have never been against the government, not yet. We are for democracy, for justice. That's why I stood by the side of the students during the tumultuous period of the July coup.
But regrettably, within just a few weeks of the coup, we are seeing various intolerant, aggressive and anarchist gatherings in various parts of Bangladesh. From these gatherings, not only violent words are being spoken against the disliked groups and groups, but also attacks are being made on those people. Why? All freedom seekers need to show more patience, I will say with that in mind – why so much violence?'
Some clerics of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islami strongly objected to the inclusion of two university professors in the National Textbook Committee. The committee was also disbanded after the two teachers were slapped with anti-religionists and two clerics were demanded to be included in the committee.
The teachers mentioned this incident in the letter. The letter also raised the question why a teacher of a private university was pressured by radical students to quit her job for writing about religion on Facebook.
In the words of Angry Teachers Network, 'Girls have been attacked, abused. Shrines and temples have been vandalized. This will intensify the lack of security of citizens! If so, what was the benefit of the July revolution bought at such a price?'
