Former Chittagong city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury has voiced his support for the Chittagong University (CU) teacher, who was recently threatened by a faction of the universityuni of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

In a statement sent to the press on Thursday night, Mohiuddin, also the president of city unit Awami League, condemned the incident and said Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has "unleashed his musclemen" on the teacher as he spoke against the holding tax reassessment.

“The teacher was also threatened," he said. "The mayor is instigating anarchy and subversive activities, which are tarnishing the image of the party and the government."

Mohiuddin is also against the holding tax reassessment.

On Sunday, Md Amir Uddin, an associate professor of the university's Institute of Education Research, was threatened at gunpoint at his office allegedly by some youths introducing themselves as activists of a faction of BCL CU unit, loyal to Nasir, for his activism against the CCC's holding tax reassessment programme.

Amir is the general secretary of Chattagram Kordata Surokkha Parishad, a group created to protect the taxpayers of Chittagong.

On Tuesday, the BCL faction loyal to Nasir also vandalised the office of the university's vice chancellor, demanding the teacher's dismissal.

When asked, Nasir, also the general secretary of Chittagong city unit AL, yesterday told The Daily Star that nobody threatened Amir.

Also, "I don't have any involvement in the incidents on the CU campus... I'm here in the city and the university is around 22km away," he said. "He [Amir] is spreading propaganda to get sympathy... and failing to get support, he is now lying."

"What is the duty of a teacher? Is it to organise rallies or teach in classrooms?" he asked.

About the BCL faction's movement against Amir, Nasir said everybody has a right to voice their opinion. "...Students also have a right to speak against him on valid grounds."

Regarding Mohiuddin's allegation, Nasir said, "How can I tarnish the image of the government? I'm also a part of it... what 1 am doing is under the purview of law... the holding tax reassessment was also held in Dhaka and other cities."

SEE PAGE 4 COL 3 FROM PAGE 3 "He [Mohiuddin] is trying to embarrass me," he said.

Contacted, Amir Uddin said as per the university ordinance and constitutional rights, a teacher can get involved in a citizen movement after class hours. "I haven't missed any class because of my involvement in the movement."

Contacted, CU VC Prof Iftekher Uddin Chowdhury said as per the CU ordinance, a teacher can be involved in a citizen or social movement after class hours.