Dhaka: A human chain was formed at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University (DU) on Wednesday protesting alleged propaganda by some media houses, purportedly against the university.

A more neutral description of the coverage - mainly in vernacular daily Prothom Alo and a popular talk-show on ATN News - might be that they were critical of the vice-chancellor, as opposed to the university itself, reports news agency United News of Bangladesh.

More than a hundred teachers, students and staff from various departments, faculties and institutions participated in the program arranged by the university's Mass Communication and Journalism Department Alumni Association (DUMCJAA).

Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) general secretary Prof M Rahmatullah said some media houses are publishing syndicated news trying to foment instability centering the recently-held VC election.

"We haven't forgotten the occurrence of '1/11'. People remember the media houses behind the Minus 2 formula," he railed.

Now these media houses make propaganda against DU & DU Vice- Chancellor Prof A A M S Arefin Siddique. Dhaka University teachers and students will give appropriate answer to this propaganda, Rahmatullah added.

Acting dean of the Social Science Faculty Prof Dr A Z M Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan said "Arefin Siddique never said that he wants to be VC. DU Senate Members nominated his name for the post. Even in the last senate session when senate members nominated Arefin Siddique's name, he didn't know about this."
Bhuiyan reiterated that publishing biased and false information is not journalism.

Mohsin Hall Provost Dr. Md. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, ex-convenor of pro-Awami League Blue Panel Prof Nazma Shaheen, A F Rahman Hall Provost Prof Aftab Uddin, and from the Mass Communication & Journalism Department, Profs. Shaikh Abdus Salam and Naadir Junaid, and Associate Prof. Robaet Ferdous also addressed the programme.

Chair of the MCJ department and general secretary of DUMCJAA Professor Mofizur Rahman conducted the human chain.