A new national platform for teachers from both public and private universities across Bangladesh was officially launched yesterday (26 July). 

The organisation, named the University Teachers Link, held its inauguration event at 11:00am at the TSC cafeteria of Dhaka University.

At the event, a 53-member central convening committee was announced, representing teachers from diverse institutions. 

Professor Md Ataur Rahman Biswas, chair of the Department of Islamic History and Culture at Dhaka University, was named as Convener, while Professor Mohammad Bilal Hossain from the Department of History at Jagannath University was made Member Secretary.

The launch of the new platform marks a step towards uniting the academic community under a common banner of “knowledge, integrity, dignity, and freedom.” 

The University Teachers Link aims to break away from traditional cultures of political loyalty in academia and instead promote values rooted in education, research, and national responsibility.

In a written statement, Professor Bilal Hossain said that the student-led mass uprising in July 2024 had “sparked a revolutionary spirit,” leading to a renewed national consciousness in Bangladesh. 

“This movement is reshaping the political and ideological outlook of our people,” he said, underlining the urgency of establishing a professional teachers’ organisation that prioritises academic integrity, campus safety, research excellence, and national development.

The formation of the University Teachers Link is a direct response to these evolving societal dynamics, according to its founders. 

The organisation sets forth five key commitments: academic excellence, self-respect, national commitment, religious tolerance, and collective responsibility with effective leadership.

With the formation of University Teachers Link, educators across Bangladesh now have a new avenue for collaboration and advocacy, grounded in principles that prioritise knowledge, freedom of thought, and civic responsibility.