Sylhet: Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal on Wednesday said it is not justified to take disciplinary actions against leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League in connection with the assault of seven teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in an attack on Sunday.

Zafar Iqbal, also a popular science fiction writer, came up with the remarks as three alleged leaders of BCL’s university unit were suspended by its central committee, and four alleged leaders suspended by the SUST authorities on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

‘Who’ve assaulted the teachers? The boys of Chhatra League? No. These are students, our students. They’re still very young and immature. You can mould them in whatever way you want to,’ he said.

‘When I learnt that three…and four more…were suspended (three suspended by BCL, four suspended by the SUST authorities), I literally feel pity for them,’ he continued.

Zafar Iqbal also noted that steps should be taken against those who have ‘misguided’ the students of such tender age.

‘Those who’ve misguided and sent these tender students are now feeling insecure themselves… to punish these Chhatra League boys is unjustified in a sense. Punish those who’ve sent them,’ he said.

Earlier on Sunday morning, seven teachers were assaulted allegedly by the leaders and activists of BCL in front of the vice chancellor’s office on the SUST campus.

Professor Syed Shamsul Islam, convener of Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Shikkhak Parishad, a pro-liberation teachers’ forum, said a group of BCL leaders and activists swooped on a teachers’ demonstration on the campus at about 8:30am and assaulted them.

The teachers had been on a movement demanding removal of VC Prof Aminul Haque Bhuiyan.

The teachers were to attend a sit-in programme in front of the Administrative Building, scheduled to be held from 9:00am to 5:00pm.