Call ‘Sir’ – A teacher’s Zeal

An assistant proctor got into an argument with a group of students of Dhaka University for uttering 'VC, Proctor' instead of 'Sir' while talking to the teacher.

A video of that incident got viral on social media. In the video, the assistant proctor, also a teacher working at the institute of education and research, was found talking to the students in an aggressive manner.

Hasnat Abdullah, a master's student of the English literature department, who was on hunger strike in front of the administration building demanding  8-points to be fulfilled in regard to irregularities in DU, fell ill on Wednesday.

Assistant Proctor Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman went there on Wednesday morning. Then one of the students standing in support of Hasnat's demands told him, 'Hasnat would have broken his strike if the VC and proctor had come.'

After this, he aggressively raided the student and said,

"Don't you know the VC? And I was wondering if the VC sir is supposed to come to your word? Don't you know VC? How dare you to call him VC only, Say 'sir!' "

Hasnat, a postgraduate student of the University's English department, started a hunger strike on Tuesday afternoon, demanding  8-point to put an end to irregularities in the registrar building, including harassment of students.

 On Tuesday morning, the concerned met the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Md.Akhtaruzzaman.

However, the Vice-Chancellor expressed his displeasure over Hasnat's demand as per the claim Hasnat made and consequently, Hasnat decided to start the hunger strike.

Then today, Wednesday afternoon, at around 2:30, Vice-Chancellor Md. Hasnat broke his hunger strike when the VC appeared, promised to fulfil the demands, and stated,

"No students will need to visit the registrar building for official formalities anymore. Respective institutes and departments will conduct every nitty gritty formality required.

After Hasnat ended the strike, a group of students took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Now he is undergoing treatment there. 

Students protesting and supporting the demands raised by Hasnat claimed that they did not expect such behaviour from a teacher.

When asked, Assistant proctor professor Mahbubur Rahman informed "The Report",

"I went to inquire about the physical condition of the student on hunger strike. By then, we had already expressed our concern over the demands he raised. My intention and attempt was solely on convincing him to call off the strike. But few students involved in argument with me".

Hasnat first started his protest on August 30, and following the protest, he gave an ultimatum to fulfil the demands within 10 working days.

Dhaka University students often complain that officials misbehave with them whenever they appear at the Registrar's building to accomplish the official formalities concerning academic fulfilment.

Hasnat's demands include setting up a complaint cell to stop harassment of students alongside ensuring the accountability of administrative officials, digitization of all administrative activities within a short period, and installing CCTV cameras on all fronts of the offices to ensure overall security.

Niaz Mahmud Sakib