Rejecting all the allegations as false and baseless, the speakers at the human chain alleged that a vested quarter is trying to halt the infrastructural development of the university in the name of protest.
The human chain maintained that an evil quarter is out to disrupt the administration and delay the development work in a motivated way.
Under the banner of ‘Bangabandhu Shikkhok Parishad’, teachers, officials and employees formed the human chain in front of the university's Central Shaheed Minar at around 11:00am.
Urging an end to ‘false allegations’ against the VC, Prof Ajit Kumar Majumdar, President of Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association (JUTA) said, “The development of the university is desirable to all of us. For development, some trees must be cut. But the movement against the development work is illogical. The ongoing movement is being carried out to impede this development work. No one can blame anyone without proper investigation and clear evidence. So do not blame the VC.”
Officers and employees also arranged a human chain under the banner of ‘Sammilito Kormokorta-Kormochari Oikyo Parishad’ in front of the old administrative building,
expressing solidarity with the ‘Bangabandhu Shikkhok Parishad.’
Prof Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, President of the Bangabandhu Shikkhok Parishad, said, “Whatever the impediment is, we will continue the development project for the benefit of our campus.”
Syndicate members of the university Prof Alamgir Kabir, Prof Hanif Ali, Prof AA Mamun, Prof ATM Atikur Rahman, Prof Bashir Ahmed, Prof Mujibur Rahman and Prof Ali Azam Talukder were present at the human chain, among others.
Meanwhile, an opposing group of protesters who have been demonstrating on the campus since August 23 demanding judicial probe into the allegations of corruption and irregularities and endangering bio-diversity centering the mega project, brought out a procession at around 1:00 in the afternoon to press home their demands.
They warned that they will block the administration building on Tuesday (September 3) if their demands are not met.