BMSRTU VC Prof Khandakar Nasiruddin faced the call to resign from a human chain held under the banner of "Muktijuddho Mancha," at the foot of the Raju memorial sculpture, a popular spot for activism.
Prof AKM Jamaluddin of DU’s Sociology department, also the convenor of Muktijuddho Mancha of Dhaka University (DU), demanded the resignation on the basis of various irregularities and corrupt practices attributed to the VC, and specifically the allegedly illegal suspension of 34 students.
He also demanded withdrawal of the suspension order of 34 students including Fatema Tuz Zinia, university reporter of a National daily and also a student of law department of the university, who was suspended on September 10 for posting a status and comments on Facebook that the authorities claim tarnished the university’s image.
Participating in the human chain, Prof Jamaluddin said, “VC Prof Khandakar Nasiruddin is an autocrat and and running the university in an autocratic manner. There is no space for freedom of speech , no-one can talk against the irregularities of the VC."
"If anyone tries to talk against him, the VC and his men physically or mentally threaten them to keep their mouth shut,” he said.
Prof Jamal further said, "It’s unthinkable that a university authority suspend or issue show cause notice against its students for posting status and comments on Facebook. But the BSTU authority did just that. That can never be acceptable.”
Dhaka University Journalists Association president Raihanul Islam Abir and Secretary general Mahadi Al Muhtasim, among others, addressed the human chain.