WE HAVE nothing to do except expressing our condemnation to the recent activities of the state against the teachers. These activities are not only evidence of the position of teachers in the viewpoint of state but also reflection of the poor social response system.
We were taught that teachers are like our parents and we must not respect them any less than our own parents. Time may have changed the old pattern of thinking and probably that is the reason why even university students misbehave with teachers. University is a place for gathering knowledge along with morality, ethics, sincerity and responsibility.
 If we look back at the incidents or mistreatments of teachers that have happened recently, we may easily realise that it will not be wrong for the teachers to feel unsecured and disrespected. In Begum Rokeya University, students threw acid to more than 10 teachers and their condition is critical now. We are afraid that one of the teachers is going to lose one of his eyes.
In Islamic University Bangladesh Chhatra League activists attacked the teachers; nearly 30 teachers were seriously injured. Regrettably still, the BCL president said none of the activists of his organisation had attacked the teachers; rather, it was a protest by general students demanding regular classes and exams.
Teachers were also attacked by the police. The teachers of non-MPO schools, colleges, madrassahs and vocational institutions have been continuing with their movement for inclusion of their academic institutions in the government’s monthly payment order scheme.
During their movement, the police fired rubber bullets, teargas shells and used dry chilli dust spray to foil their programme.
Teachers are said to be the builders of a nation and mistreating with the teachers will bring nothing but disorder in the education sector.
I just wish that our prime minister, education minister and home minister realised the gravity of the situation soon and took steps to restore the respect of the teachers. Is the Chhatra League more important than teachers? If not, why then was no one arrested after the incident at Rokeya University? We want to see the end of mistreatment to teachers.
Rafik Alamgir
International Islamic University, Chittagong