DHAKA, Aug 22, 2020 (BSS) – Dhaka University (DU) will observe
August 23 as the “Black Day” in memory of the “inhuman, sad and
condemnable” attack on the university’s teachers, students and
officials on August 20-23, 2007 during the caretaker government
regime.
Teachers, students, officials and employees of the university will
wear black badges marking the day, said a DU press release.
A discussion will also be held at the Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom
adjacent to the VC’s office through virtual platform with DU
Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
On August 20 in 2007, some military members severely beat up
students and a violent clash ensued between them centering a football
match at DU central playground.
Thousands of DU students took to the streets protesting the incident
and demanded withdrawal of the army camp from the campus and sought an
apology from the troops.
The protest afterwards spread to all educational institutions across
the country.
Following the clash, the then army-backed caretaker government
imposed a curfew on the divisional cities and later arrested four DU
teachers- Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, Prof Dr
Harun-or-Rashid and Prof Dr Neem Chandra Bhowmick and several students
on August 23 and tortured them.
Since then, the university observes August 23 as ‘Black Day’ every year.