Teacher wants to make CU student ‘stand up by ear’

A controversy has erupted over an altercation and a 'knock your ears' remark between Dr. Muhammad Ali Haider, an associate professor of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, and a student on a bus at Chittagong University (CU). The incident took place on a university-bound bus at 8:30 am on Sunday (November 2).

The victim student wrote in a post on her personal Facebook ID, “I have been commuting on the 8:30 bus since 2022, but today is the first time a teacher has behaved so badly. And the reason behind this is only because I and we are students.
The incident happened, I boarded the 8:30 bus from GEC. Then he misbehaved with the driver and helper. Their argument was, why are students being picked up on the teacher-staff bus.
Then I was sitting and talking, so he scolded me and told me not to talk. I got upset and said, ‘Why?’ Then he shouted, this is not our bus, we have no right to talk here.

I said that the proctor sir has given permission. He then pointed his finger at me and said, the proctor has no authority to give this permission. And if we cannot prove it, then he will make us sit up by the ears.
I then said, you do not have this authority either. Then he called me a fool and She said, I don't know how to talk to the teacher.
Every student on this bus knows how disgusting and arrogant his behavior was. She also said, we are learning lafangami.
If a teacher behaves like this, what will the students learn from them?”

In her post, the student drew the attention of the newly elected housing secretary of the university, Md. Ishaq Bhuiyan, and wrote, “You are the elder brother of my department. As a student and as your younger sister, I want this incident to be resolved fairly. Even my father has never spoken to me in such a tone.”

Dr. Muhammad Ali Haider, a teacher involved in the incident, said, “I boarded the bus at 8:30 last night. I sat in the first seat on one side, and the chairman of the HRM department was on the other side. A girl and a boy were sitting behind me. As soon as they got up, they started talking loudly. On the other hand, the driver also stopped the bus repeatedly and picked up people from outside. I said to the driver, ‘What are you doing? This bus is mainly for teachers and officers, why are you picking up people? I will file a complaint against you.’

Then I was a little worried. But the girl behind me was talking non-stop. I turned back and pointed my finger at my face to stop her from talking, then she turned around. After a while, she started talking again. Then I said again, ‘I told you not to talk.’

Then she suddenly shouted, ‘Why shouldn’t I talk?’ I said, ‘Look, you are not eligible for this bus.’ Then the boy sitting next to me said, ‘Who says you are not eligible? The proctor’s office has given permission, the Chaksu Communications Secretary has also given permission.’

Then I said, ‘If you have permission, can you show it to me in the form of a paper? If you can’t, then you will have to sit up and down by holding your ears, otherwise I will get off.’

After saying this, both of them got angry. The girl kept abusing me—in obscene and disrespectful language. I didn’t react either. I just said—‘You can’t treat teachers like this. If we say something, you get into an argument.’

After that, I didn’t talk to the girl anymore, but the boy started arguing. Later, a few more students came and closed the bus door and occupied the empty seats in front. They kept contacting the proctor’s office and student leaders on the phone, as if the situation would get more heated.

I was sitting quietly at that time, even my younger child was on the bus and they misbehaved with him too.

I will meet the proctor sir tomorrow and tell him in detail about this. If necessary, I will present the truth through a press conference.”

Proctor Dr. Hossain Shahid Suhrawadi said, “After knowing the matter, we spoke to them. If necessary, we will arrange separate buses for the students."

The newly elected housing secretary of Chaksur, Md. Ishaq Bhuiyan, said, "I am aware of this issue. I had my exams today and will come to attend the first meeting of the Chaksur executive committee later. After the meeting, I will sit with them. I will work to ensure that there is mutual respect between students and teachers."