United News of Bangladesh

At least  25 people including five policemen were injured in a clash between two groups on Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) campus on Sunday centering the joining of newly appointed Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal. The unrest began after a government appointed Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new VC of DUET, said witnesses. Soon after the announcement, a section of students of the university rejected the appointment and demanded a vice-chancellor appointed from within DUET. Dr Iqbal was scheduled to join the office on Sunday. Since morning, some students started demonstrations rejecting the new VC and declared him ‘persona non grata’ on the campus. The protesters locked the university’s main gate and observed a ‘red card’ programme demanding cancellation of the appointment, said witnesses. Meanwhile, some students who supported the new VC gathered outside the campus, triggering tension between the two groups. At one stage, a clash broke out between two groups, leaving at least 25 people injured. Aminul Islam, Office-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station they are trying to bring the situation under control. As DUET is a specialised engineering university, the protesting students argued that teachers from the institution have better understanding and experience regarding its academic and administrative structure. They said appointing a VC from among DUET teachers would help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment.