The High Court on Tuesday rejected an application filed by Dhaka University teacher Professor Morshed Hasan Kha, who was earlier terminated by the university authorities on charge of distorting the country's history and defaming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, seeking a stay on an eviction notice asking him to leave his university residence.
The High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice S M Maniruzzaman passed the order after hearing the petition.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared in the court on behalf of Prof Morshed, while Additional Attorney General Sk Md Morshed represented the state.
Barrister Jyotirmoy said they will appeal against the HC order. On the other hand, Additional Attorney General Morshed said, Prof Morshed Hasan has to leave his university residence following the HC order.
The Dhaka University authorities on June 29 this year issued a notice to Prof Morshed to leave his university residence. Challenging the legality of the notice Prof Morshed filed the application with the High Court.
According to the case documents, Prof Morshed has been living in a flat in the residential building no 37 of North Fuller Road of the university.
He was supposed to leave the residence as per the rules after being terminated from his job in September 2020. But he later filed a writ petition with the High Court. After hearing the petition, the High Court issued a rule asking the respondents to explain as to why the removal order of Prof Morshed should not be declared illegal.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir came up with the rule after hearing the petition.
The DU authorities, reportedly on April 2, 2018, suspended Prof Morshed over allegations of distorting the history of the Liberation War and defaming Bangabandhu and said the punishment will remain effective until further notice.
Prof Morshed made some remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and on history, in his article titled “Jyotirmoy Zia”, published in a national daily on March 25, 2018.
Later the DU authorities on September 9, 2020, terminated Prof Morshed, a marketing department teacher, on charges of distorting the country's history and defaming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The decision to terminate his Professorship was taken at a meeting of the university's syndicate.
Petitioner's lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua told the media that his client Prof Morshed submitted an appeal to the DU vice-chancellor against his termination, but the VC had not disposed of the appeal in seven months. Therefore, Prof Morshed filed the writ petition challenging the authorities' decision, he said.
