Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Obaidul Islam has alleged that the caretaker government of 2007 sought to sideline Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman from politics to prolong its hold on power.
“Their main objective was to remove then-leader Begum Khaleda Zia from politics, which was known as the ‘Minus Two’ formula,” he said.
The vice-chancellor made the remarks at a discussion organized at the TSC auditorium on Sunday to mark Dhaka University’s Black Day. The university observes August 23 every year to commemorate the attacks, arrests and alleged torture of its teachers and students during August 20-23, 2007.
Prof. Obaidul said the university had been observing August 23 as Black Day every year since 2009, recalling 2007 and 2008 as “extremely horrific” years.
“During the period, an unfortunate incident took place at the Dhaka University playground on August 20, 2007,” he said, adding that the treatment of teachers during a subsequent crackdown was “extremely humiliating.”
According to Dhaka University records, on August 20, 2007, army personnel assaulted students while they were watching a football match at the university’s central playground. The incident triggered protests by students. The then military-backed caretaker government subsequently imposed a curfew, and on the night of August 23, four DU teachers and eight students were arrested and reportedly tortured.
Since then, Dhaka University has observed August 23 as Black Day in remembrance of the incidents.
The VC also alleged that the caretaker government had installed its preferred people in power through the election it organized at the fag end of 2008. The Awami League had won that election in a landslide.
He recalled Khaleda Zia’s reported refusal to leave Bangladesh despite pressure, saying, “She firmly said that she had no other place but this country and that if she had to die, she would die here.” He credited her stance for earning her the title “Mother of Democracy.”
Speaking about Tarique Rahman, Prof Obaidul alleged that he had been subjected to severe torture, including an injury to his back. He also referred to allegations that Tarique Rahman’s younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, was killed through slow poisoning.
“Despite all this persecution, they did not deviate from their ideals. Truth always prevails. The black agenda of Moinuddin-Fakhruddin did not succeed,” he said.
DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Admin) Prof Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said the “Minus Two” formula was, in his view, aimed at weakening Bangladeshi nationalist forces, a political party and its family.
“I want to connect that attempt to destroy the nationalist forces with the attack on Dhaka University,” he said.
DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Treasurer Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Proctor Dr Israfil Ratan, deans of different faculties, provosts and teachers and students were present at the program.