Dhaka: Denouncing the assaults on teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) reportedly by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), BNP on Monday described it as a shameful and regrettable incident.

‘This is not enough to describe the incident as only regrettable…this very much shameful indeed…we strongly condemn it,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

Addressing a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said the incident of attack on teachers by BCL men is nothing new, as they are flexing their muscles in all educational institutions across the country and assaulting teachers.’

Earlier on Sunday, seven teachers of SUST were assaulted purportedly by leaders and activists of the university unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student affiliate body of the ruling Awami League, in front of the vice chancellor’s office.

The BCL men attacked a teachers’ demonstration on the campus, demanding removal of VC Professoressor Aminul Haque Bhuiyan, and physically assaulted them.

The press briefing was held after a coordination meeting of the party and its associate bodies on the occasion of its 37th founding anniversary to be celebrated on Tuesday.

Ripon said Professoressor Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal along with some talented teachers instead of staying abroad established the SUST in a place like Sylhet with a dream of spreading the light of education there. ‘But the attitude showed towards them is quite unexpected. It might be the new experience for Dr Zafar Iqbal, but it’s happening in any other educational institutions, too.’

Referring to the assault on Professor Dr Yasmeen Haque, wife of Professor Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, the BNP leader said the way she was attacked that cannot be imagined in a civilised society. ‘When the photos and videos and news on it go on viral and the foreigners watch it how the country’s image gets dented. So, not only Dr Yasmeen was assaulted, but the country’s image got harmed seriously by the incident.’

‘We’ve seen photographs in the newspapers that police officers were standing between the teachers and the BCL activists, pleading the BCL men to calm down. This photograph has exposed how helpless our law enforcers and administration!’ he observed.