A group of teachers, mostly loyal to Awami League (AL) and left-leaning parties, met Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz yesterday and threatened to boycott the convocation if the authorities do not pay heed to their demand.

Leaders of Chhatra Sangram Parishad, a combine of 14-party-backed student organisations, and left-leaning progressive students' alliance also met the VC separately to place the same demand. They told the VC that Prof Yunus, as the leader of a newly formed political party, has no moral right to be the convocation speaker.

"We can't allow the leader of a political party to use the convocation of Dhaka University as a platform for his politics," said Prof Harun-or-Rashid, dean of social science faculty.

He said, "We have no reservations about the Nobel laureate who was nominated as the convocation speaker earlier. But the situation has changed and he is now the leader of Nagorik Shakti, a political party. We are concerned that he might use the university platform for political purposes."

He also said that in the past, those who delivered the convocation speech at DU were non-partisan and acceptable to all. "But Dr Yunus has already made himself controversial by floating the political party," he added.

The university will also confer 'Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)' on Dr Yunus at the convocation ceremony. Asked about it, Prof Harun said, "We have no objections to it."

Meanwhile, a group of students yesterday held a press conference at Madhu's Canteen where they vowed to prevent Prof Yunus from taking part in the convocation as the main speaker.

Khomeni Ihsan, a fourth year student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, read out a written statement at the press conference.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, in a statement on Friday, also opposed the decision to invite Prof Yunus as the convocation speaker.