The High Court has rejected a prayer of Dhaka University (DU) teacher Professor Morshed Hasan Khan upholding a notice of the DU authorities asking him to vacate his university residence.
Earlier, Professor Morshed Hasan Khan was terminated by the university authorities on charge of distorting the country's history and defaming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Later, he submitted a prayer to the High Court seeking a stay on the eviction notice.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabarty and Justice SM Moniruzzaman passed the order after hearing the petition on Tuesday.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared in the court on behalf of Professor Morshed, while Additional Attorney General Sheikh Md Morshed and Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan Daud represented the state.
Barrister Jyotirmoy said they will appeal against the HC order.
On the other hand, Additional Attorney General Sheikh Md Morshed said Professor Morshed Hasan was asked to vacate his university residence by the HC order.
The Dhaka University authorities on June 29 this year issued a notice to Professor Morshed to vacate his university residence. Challenging the legality of the notice Prof Morshed filed the application with the High Court.
According to the case documents, Professor Morshed has been living in a flat in the university residential building No. 37 at North Fuller Road.
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 Professor Morshed should not be declared illegal.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir issued the rule after hearing the petition.
The DU authorities, reportedly on April 2, 2018, suspended Professor Morshed over allegations of distorting the history of the Liberation War and defaming Bangabandhu, and said the punishment will remain effective until further notice.
Professor Morshed made remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and on history, in his article titled "Jyotirmoy Zia", published in a national daily on March 26, 2018.
Later, the Chhatra League leaders and workers submitted a memorandum to the DU VC to sack Professor Morshed. The Dhaka University Teachers Association also protested and condemned the write-up of Professor Morshed.
Then the DU authorities on September 9, 2020, terminated Professor Morshed, a teacher of the Marketing department, 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 reporters that his client Professor Morshed submitted an appeal to the DU vice-chancellor against his termination, but the VC did not disposed of the appeal in seven months. Therefore, Professor Morshed filed the writ petition challenging the authorities' decision, he said.
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