The High Court has declared illegal the termination of three teachers of Khulna University (KU). It also asked the KU authorities to reinstate the three teachers in their job.
The three teachers are--- Bangla Discipline's Assistant Professor Abul Fazal, Bangla Discipline's Lecturer Shakila Alam, and History and Civilization Discipline's Lecturer Hoymonty Shukla Kabery.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo delivered the verdict on Thursday after hearing a rule issued earlier in this regard.
Following a writ petition filed by the three teachers, the High Court on February 9 in 2021 issued a status quo on the termination of three teachers. It also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned with KU and the government to explain in four weeks why the termination of three KU teachers should not be declared illegal.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Arabindo Kumar Roy represented the state.
The authorities have taken the decision on January 28 in 2021 to terminate three KU teachers only for expressing their solidarity with a student movement at the university in 2020, which does not make any offence, said Mr Barua.
On January 1, 2020, the KU students staged a demonstration on the campus to press their five-point demands, including the reduction of tuition fees and ensuring accommodation. Some university teachers expressed their solidarity with the movement.
On October 13, 2020, the KU authorities served show cause notices to four teachers, including the trio. In the notice, the KU authorities said that the teachers delivered provocative speeches and spread false information against the university.
