United News of Bangladesh

Zahidul Karim, a teacher of Jahangirnagar University, has resigned from his post in protest of attacks on general students by the members of law enforcement agencies and Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League. Karim, an associate professor of Management Studies department at the university, sent his resignation letter to vice-chancellor Nurul Alam via email on Thursday. However, according to the university's public relations office, Zahidul Karim has resigned due to fear of possible punishment following an ongoing investigation into an allegation against him. A notice signed by Acting Director Mohammad Mohiuddin of the Public Relations Office, stated that following a decision of the university's special syndicate meeting held on August 28, 2021, an allegation that was already investigated once earlier, into the conduct of the MBA examination committee for the academic year 2017-2018, would be reopened. An official investigation committee has been formed to review the report of the investigation committee that was constituted to look into allegations of aiding in malpractice during the exams. Karim was the then department head. While the investigation is ongoing, he has requested to be released from his job, according to the public relations office statement. Zahidul Karim also cited recent events in the country as a reason in his resignation letter, but the authorities termed his reasoning 'intentional' and 'malicious', in the notice. The university authorities firmly state that the official investigation against him will continue and actions will be taken accordingly upon its completion. Denying the allegations, Zahidul Karim said he was not involved in any academic activities although his wife was a student of that batch. He knew nothing about malpractice during the exams and mentioned it as a conspiracy against him. The chairman of the examination committee of the batch in question (4th MBA, 2017-18), Professor Awal Al-Kabir, said the matter is under investigation.  While refusing to be drawn into divulging details, he did add he "informed the university about his (Zahid Karim's) irregularities in the examination. "Now it is upto the university to take action,” Prof. Kabir added. Another professor of the Business Studies Faculty, wishing to remain anonymous, told UNB that when Karim's involvement in malpractice came to light, an academic council meeting was held in the department, and the examination committee members filed a written complaint against him to the then-Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam. “To save him, the investigation process was prolonged, and he was sent abroad on study leave,” he also alleged. 'Teaching community's conscience eroded' Earlier on July 25, Associate Professor Zahidul Karim submitted his resignation letter via email. He stated that he wants to voluntarily quit his job in protest against the government's brutal attacks on general students during the recent quota reform movement. In his letter, he wrote that he has been teaching at the Management Studies Department of Jahangirnagar University for almost 14 years. The government's negligence, and 'partisan attitudes' of his fellow teachers regarding the recent violence and chaos in the country have deeply saddened him. He has always been vocal for truth and justice and stood by the students in their rightful demands. Many students have lost their lives due to the government's aggressive stance against the rightful demand for quota reform. The government could have quickly accepted the students' demands, preventing such loss of lives. The families of the students who were killed had many dreams for them. They are now devastated by the loss of their children. The entire nation is in mourning along with them. The recent killings of general students by Chhatra League, police, RAB, and BGB over the past week have created a dark chapter in the nation's history. The killing of students and injuring some protesting teachers have surpassed the barbarity of 1971, according to Karim. "Despite witnessing these killings, the university administration and teachers have remained indifferent. The role of teachers has become questionable to the nation," he writes.  The conscience of the teaching community has been eroded due to political partisanship, and the teacher-student relationship has been trampled. In his letter, he also expressed his deep respect and love for all the students who have been martyred and the injured teachers and students. "To awaken the values and moral sense of the entire teaching community of Bangladesh, I am voluntarily resigning from my position as Associate Professor, Management Studies Department, Jahangirnagar University," he declares, in a clearly more terminal decision than a temporary suspension while the internal investigation into him is conducted, that the PR office informed about in its statement.

The Ministry of Education will request the heads of the higher educational institutions to discuss with the students’ organisations to resume academic activities after ensuring safe and congenial atmosphere. Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel revealed the information, said MA Khayer, public relations officer of the ministry. The University Grants Commission (UGC) on July 16 announced a closure of all public and private universities until further notice considering the issue of students' safety in the wake of widespread protests for reforming quota. HSC exams for July 28, 29, 31 & Aug 1 postponed A press release, signed by UGC secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman, said academic activities of all public, private universities, medical, textile, engineering colleges affiliated to the university and other colleges will remain shut until further notice. The UGC has taken the move in line with the Education Ministry’s decision, said the release.

The HSC and equivalent examinations of all education boards scheduled for July 28, 29, 31 and August 1 have been postponed due to unavoidable reasons. The new schedule for the postponed examinations will be notified later, according to a notification signed by Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and chairman of the Dhaka Education Board. Read more: Edu Ministry to request heads of higher edu intuitions to sit with students’ bodies to resume classes Earlier, the HSC and equivalent examinations scheduled for July 18, 21, 23, 25 were also postponed in the wake of violence amid students’ demonstration for reforming quota in public service.

The HSC and equivalent examinations of all education boards scheduled  for July 21, 23, and 25 have been postponed due to unavoidable reasons. The schedule for the postponed examinations will be notified later, according to a notification signed by Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and chairman of the Dhaka Education Board. Other examinations will be held as per the announced schedule from July 28, reads the notification. Earlier, the HSC and equivalent examinations scheduled for Thursday were also postponed.

Most of the residential students of Chittagong University refused to leave the halls on Wednesday even after the directive from the administration to vacate halls. Later, the CU administration extended  time till 10 am on Thursday. According to the decision of the CU syndicate meeting, the university was declared closed indefinitely and the female students were instructed to leave the halls by 6:00 pm on Wednesday (July 17) and the male students by 9:30 pm. JnU authorities acknowledge students’ 6-point demand The provosts were also instructed to seal all the rooms after the students left the halls. After the expiry of the deadline, it was found that only the female students left the Folilatunnesa Mujib Hall. Almost all the students are still staying in the remaining four halls. The students submitted a written application to the vice-chancellor with a three-point demand, expressing their inability to leave the halls. The demands are: general students cannot be forced to leave the halls under any circumstances, the university administration will bear the responsibility of ensuring round-the-clock security outside the halls and a house tutor will be present at all times to ensure the safety of the students staying in the halls. A student staying in the hall said, "The university administration ordered us to leave the halls in a hurry. Students like me, whose home is far away, it is not possible to leave the hall at the moment if they want. We have to stay in the hall now. And our brothers are agitating. It is not possible for us to leave them and go home right now.“ Dhaka University declared closed amid quota protests, students asked to vacate halls by 6pm Chittagong University Proctor Ohidul Alam said many  students' homes are far away and so it is not possible for them to leave the halls within the stipulated time. “That's why they appealed. In view of this, we have said that the students will have to vacate all the halls by 10 am on Thursday. If anyone wants to stay without listening to us, then the university administration will not be responsible for the situation.”

Assuring a definitive stance, the administration of Jagannath University has acknowledged the demands of protesting students, including a lifetime ban on campus politics. A notice signed by the acting registrar Professor Dr. M. Aynul Islam on Wednesday evening said that the following 6 demands of the students of Jagannath University have been acknowledged by the administration. These are the six point demand of JnU students: 1. A lifetime ban on all forms of student politics on campus. 2. Ensuring open halls for female students and ensuring their safety and facilities. 3. Bearing the medical expenses of those injured in quota protests. 4. Taking action against any teacher, student, or staff member who collaborates with any political party. 5. Ensuring the safety of students residing in the halls by prosecuting attackers and ensuring their punishment. 6. Assuring immediate medical assistance and legal support to the protesting students involved in this agitation. Earlier in the afternoon, through the Proctor, the Vice-Chancellor assured compliance with the six demands made by the protesting students. Additionally, by Wednesday evening, they have also given an ultimatum to accept these demands.

Amidst student protests, the administration of Jagannath University has revoked its decision to close the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall. The decision was confirmed by Hall Provost Dr. Dipika Rani. Dr. Dipika said, "Those who wish to stay can stay, and those who wish to leave may do so. Regular services such as gas, water, and electricity will continue in the hall." The university administration has also issued a notice regarding this matter. Earlier, in an emergency syndicate meeting of the university, a decision was made to vacate the hall and suspend academic activities. Students protested against this directive during the meeting, disrupting proceedings in the provost office. Students expressed their disagreement with the administration's unilateral decision to evacuate the hall. At that time, students chanted slogans like, "We do not accept the administration's decision," and "This hall is our home, we will not leave."

The Female students of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall at Jagannath University (JU) have started staging demonstrations protesting the decision to vacate their dormitory following an emergency syndicate meeting in the morning. The agitating students came out of their rooms and started staging protests. The decision to vacate the halls by 4pm came from the syndicate meeting with Vice-Chancellor Dr Sadeka Halim in the chair. IU shut for indefinite period The students were seen protesting in front of the hostel with home kitchen appliances like plates and spoons. During the protest, students chanted slogans such as “We do not accept the administration's decision," "The hall doesn't belong to anyone's father," and "The hall is our home, we will not leave." JU hall provost resigns after ‘BCL attack on quota protestors’ Hall Provost Deepika Rani Sarkar said, "I can't speak right now. The girls are coming down. They do not want to leave the hall. We are looking into the matter."

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia declared closed the university for an identified period on Wednesday amid the ongoing demonstrations by the students demanding reform in the quota system in government jobs. The decision was made at an emergency syndicate meeting held at the university’s vice-chancellor residence in the morning with VC Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair. IU proctor Professor M Shahadath Hossain Azad told UNB that the university administration took the decision following the directive of the University Grants’ Commission. Clash involving BCL, quota protesters leave around 250 injured They also took the decision to avoid any kind of untoward situation. The male students were asked to vacate their halls by 1:00pm while the female students were asked to leave their halls by Thursday morning, he said. The decision regarding reopening the university would be informed later, he added.

All government primary schools under eight city corporation areas of the country have been declared closed for an indefinite period considering the students’  safety, said the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on Wednesday morning. According to press release, signed by Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, senior information officer of the ministry, academic activities at all government primary schools and other primary schools and learning centres run by Shishu Kallyan Trust and Bureau of Non-Formal Education will remain suspended until further notice. Earlier on Tuesday night, The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced a closure of all public and private universities until further notice considering the issue of students' safety against the background of the quota reform movement.