‘Zoha Day’ yet to be declared National Teachers Day

The demand of declaring 18th February as 'National Teachers Day' is yet to be fulfilled even after 48 years of the sacrificing of life by Dr Syed Muhammad Shamsuzzoha to save students' life at Rajshahi University during mass uprising of 1968.

 

The teachers, students and employees of Rajshahi University have expressed their frustration as the day yet to be announced a national day although ministers and officials of different governments, including the ruling Awami League, assured in this regard.

 

Professor Dr. Shamsuzzoha, the then proctor and a teacher of the university’s chemistry department, was shot dead by Pakistani military in front of the university’s main gate on February 18, 1969 while he rushed to the university main gate to save the students who brought out procession peaking section 144.

 

His death accelerated the mass movement against Pakistan army for withdrawal of historic Agartala Conspiracy Case. The agitation started in Rajshahi and elsewhere in the country on February 15, 1969 when Sergent Zahurul Haque, an accused in the case, was killed by Pakistan army personnel after his arrest.

 

Since then, the university teachers, students, employees and various social, political and cultural organizations have been observing the day as ‘Zoha Day’.

 

RU teachers’ association president and also a Chemistry department Professor Nazrul Islam told that it seems to them that the government is reluctant to pay heed to their demand only for his being a teacher of Rajshahi University.

 

RU pro-vice chancellor Professor Ananda Kumar Saha said, “We hope that the ruling government will declare the day soon.”

 

Meanwhile commemorating the 49th anniversary of martyrdom of Dr Shamsuzzoha, the university authorities, various social, political and cultural organizations of the university and chemistry department have chalked out elaborate programmes on the campus on Sunday including placing of wreaths at the grave and monument of Dr Zoha, hoisting of black flag, Quran Khwani.

 

RU chemistry department in association with the university authorities will organise Zoha Memorial Speech at the university senate building where UGC chairman Professor Abdul Mannan will read out the keynote paper on February 27.

AIMD