The telephone conversation between BNP leader Tarique Rahman and a Dhaka University teacher over the protests demanding reforms to quotas in government services has surfaced on the internet.
The audio clip, in which party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son is instructing to persuade pro-BNP teachers to take an active role to back the protesters, is on YouTube and went viral on the social media.
Biochemistry Department’s Professor Mamun Ahmed was on the other side of the conversation.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune on Wednesday, Mamun, a former general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, said the phone call took place Tuesday night.
According to him, the White Panel of pro-BNP teachers announced its support to the protests following the telephone call from the exiled party leader.
Living in London for a decade now, Tarique is standing for his mother Khaleda since she has been jailed for corruption.
“The acting BNP chairman wanted to know about the overall scenario. I informed him that we support it,” he said adding that the Teachers Association and the Vice-Chancellor have also given statements backing reforms to quotas.
Mamun, who sits on the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, also serves as the president to the party’s cultural wing, the Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JaSaS).
In the nearly 3-minute audio clip, Tarique was heard describing the quota reform demands as ‘genuine’ and that the people were with the protesters.
“The Awami League destroyed the quota system…over past few years. I find the demands as fair. Please see if you in the White Panel, especially the pro-BNP teachers, can support them in an organised way," he was heard saying.
Mamun replied: “My personal opinion is, we need to support them, but it has not been possible to do that in an organised way for different reasons. But it’s about time to organise given the circumstances. It will now certainly expedite as you have asked for it. We will definitely do it.”
Tarique said, “Then please take some responsibilities … Speak to everyone to organise them. I am speaking to one or two others. But you must do whatever you can from your position.”

The audio clips of the Phone conversation between Tarique Rahman and Mamun Ahmed is given below