As many as 866 teachers of the Dhaka University have protested an open letter sent by a group of foreigners asking for halting proceedings of trial of Nobel laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus in graft and labour persecution cases.

The teachers affiliated with pro-liberation Blue Panel of the university termed the open letter interference in the independent judiciary of Bangladesh.

Prof Sitesh Chandra Bachar, convenor of the Blue Panel, joint convenors Prof M Amzad Ali and Prof Rafiqul Islam issued a joint statement on Sunday.

Recently, 160 global figures including over 100 Nobel laureates, in an open letter, requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to halt proceedings of cases against Dr Yunus. They also highlighted ‘contributions’ of Yunus to changing fate of the common people by microcredit programmes and other ventures.

In line with editors and other professional bodies, the blue panel teachers came up with the protest.  

Expressing deep concern, the Dhaka University teachers said the open letter is contradictory to the rule of law, decency and sovereignty of an independent country.

The open letter issued by foreigners saying any evaluation of the charges against Dr Yunus by an independent panel of judges would result in his acquittal would hamper the usual proceedings of the cases.

Issuance of letter to PM for halting trial is unprecedented and partisan to protect interest of an individual, they opined.

DU Correspondent adds:
The Pro-Awami League Blue Panel teachers of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday expressed deep concern over the letter of 160 Nobel laureates, politicians, businessmen and civil society members from different countries to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking suspension of the ongoing case against Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

This concern was expressed in a statement signed by the convenor of the panel Prof Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar and joint-conveners Prof Dr Mohammad Amzad Ali and Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Islam with the names of 866 teachers of the university.

Prior to DU teachers, 50 editors of national dailies expressed concern over the open letter of global leaders to suspend the ongoing judicial proceedings against Prof Muhammad Yunus.

They termed open letter to the Prime Minister by foreigners an unsolicited interference in the independence judiciary of Bangladesh.

BDST: 0952 HRS, SEP 04, 2023
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