UTL forms 26-member convening committee at DU

Bangla Press Desk:  The University Teachers Link (UTL), an organisation of government and private university teachers, has formed a 26-member convening committee for its Dhaka University (DU) branch.

Professor Zubair Muhammad Ehsanul Haque, chairman of the Department of Arabic, has been made convener, while Professor Md Motaleb Hossain of the Department of Mathematics has been named member secretary.

The committee was announced by UTL Central Convener and Chairman of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, Professor Md Ataur Rahman Biswas, at a press conference held at the Dhaka University Club on Thursday afternoon.

In a written statement, Professor Ataur Rahman Biswas said the University Teachers Link has emerged based on four guiding principles- knowledge, self-respect, faith and freedom.

“The unprecedented revolution of students and the masses in July 2024 has awakened national consciousness and thinking in a new way. In the wake of that change, UTL dreams of a positive transformation in the education arena,” he said.

He added that protecting the dignity of teachers, ensuring academic integrity, creating a safe and open campus, promoting excellence in research and contributing constructively to national development are the core objectives of UTL.

“Free from the culture of political allegiance, we want to build an educational environment where knowledge, self-respect and independent thinking will flourish,” he stated.

Speaking at the event, the newly appointed DU convener Professor Zubair Muhammad Ehsanul Haque said that although Dhaka University has long symbolised the nation’s intellectual leadership, it has failed to reach its desired goals in recent years due to administrative corruption, irresponsibility and political interference.

“While there are several organisations of university teachers, many remain politically influenced, and as a result, they have failed to achieve the legitimate demands and professional recognition of ordinary teachers,” he said.

He further noted that in the post–24 July coup context, a need had arisen for a teachers’ organisation in the new Bangladesh that believes university teachers are the moral and knowledge-based guides of the nation.

“UTL is committed to fulfilling that expectation,” he added.

UTL Central Member Secretary Professor Mohammad Bilal Hossain said that post-July Revolution, Bangladesh stands on the path of moral and ideological reconstruction.

“At this time, university teachers should not remain silent observers but should act as guides of the nation and public opinion makers. To that end, UTL aims to establish itself as a professional, idealistic and effective teachers’ organisation,” he said.

The UTL leaders said that since the organisation’s inception on 26 July, they have been carrying out various activities across universities to expand their network, improve the quality of education and research, and uphold the dignity of the teaching community.

BP/SP