Sada Dal condemns 'misuse' of teachers’ association banner at Shaheed Minar

The Sada Dal, a pro-BNP teachers’ organisation at Dhaka University, has strongly condemned the alleged use of Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) banner to pay tribute at Central Shaheed Minar, claiming those involved have neither moral nor legal authority.

In a statement issued Saturday, Sada Dal Convener Prof Morshed Hasan Khan, Joint Convener Prof Abdus Salam and Prof Md Abul Kalam Sarkar expressed “strong condemnation and protest” over the incident.

The statement said a group of teachers had placed wreaths at Central Shaheed Minar under the banner of DUTA to honour language martyrs. 

However, the Sada Dal claimed the association currently has no functional committee and has been rejected by the majority of teachers following the July 2024 mass uprising.

The leaders argued that organising any event under the Teachers’ Association banner in its present state is “immoral and presumptuous,” noting that the individuals presenting themselves as association leaders lack both moral and legal legitimacy.

The statement further alleged that the individuals opposed the July uprising and played a controversial role in the political situation at that time. After the political change on August 5, 2024, the group has been widely perceived as aligned with the previous regime.

According to the statement, the university administration has formed a high-level investigation committee and several of the individuals involved have been barred from academic and administrative duties pending inquiry.

Sada Dal leaders stressed that no activities should be conducted under the Teachers’ Association banner until a valid committee is formed and the investigation is completed. 

They urged the administration to take exemplary action against those found responsible and to prevent political activity in the university’s sensitive spaces.

Concluding the statement, the Sada Dal warned that it would not tolerate any actions by those they described as opponents of the July mass uprising or supporters of the former government.

SH