Editorial
Demands for teachers' release
Expeditious, dignified resolution of the issue is called for
TEACHERS of Dhaka University as well as some of their former colleagues have lately been demanding the release of all academics and students taken into custody earlier by the authorities. On Thursday they staged a silent demonstration to voice their demands and then followed it up by issuing an ultimatum that the teachers must be freed from detention by December 12. We are certainly cognisant of the sensitivities involved here. The recent handing down of jail terms for some teachers of Rajshahi University, which we in an earlier editorial described as harsh and disproportionate, has obviously ratcheted up such sensitivities among teachers and people of other sectors of society. It is a situation that needs to be addressed to the satisfaction of all.
The fact of the matter is that errors have been committed on both sides. The incident should not have been politicised. There was also no cause for the type of vandalism that we saw, especially after the army was withdrawn. The crisis that flared up in August this year has seen conditions developing in a way that has left a damaging imprint on public sensibilities. But at this point, with demands arising for the release of the academics of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities, we are constrained to say that the government ought to have gone for a more deft and sensitive handling of the issue than it has so far. We have always made it clear that treating teachers in an abrasive manner would lead to even bigger complications. It has always been our belief that rather than dealing with the teachers in the way they have already been dealt with, it would have been much more creditable for the authorities to handle the matter with great and careful introspection. That, unfortunately, is not how things have been shaping up, to everyone's regret.
As far as an ultimatum goes, there should not have been any. Neither there should there be a knee-jerk reaction from those it is directed at. A happening no one in the country will welcome. Such response is one of anger and egotistical in nature rather than sign of wisdom and foresight. Considering the difficult circumstances the country in general and the universities in particular have been going through even any semblance of confrontation will have to be scrupulously avoided.
We would like to think that the government has no wish to belittle the academic community as leaders of the former have often reiterated. It is in light of such belief that we will ask it to go for an expeditious and dignified resolution of the issue. And since teachers are a highly respected section of society and have been for ages, it will be injudicious on the part of anyone to expect them as well as all the students detained to give an 'undertaking' before they can be freed. Simply put, the question does not arise. In view of the fact that teachers and students have already suffered several months of prison, government should declare an amnesty and free all concerned.
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