A group of former leaders and activists of Islamic University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organisation of  ruling Awami League, staged a demonstration on the campus in Kushtia for the third consecutive day on Wednesday demanding vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam’s resignation. Around 30 ex-BCL leaders and activists of IU went to the Vice-Chancellor’s office and kept it under lock and key in the morning, to press home their demand. The protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations on the campus until their demand was met. Earlier, eight audio clips, three between Oliur, a jobseeker at the Mass Communication and Journalism Department and the VC and two others with an official of a ministry went viral on Facebook that sparked  protest and criticism. Also Read: Ex-BCL men stage demo at IU demanding VC’s resignation In the audio clip, the VC purportedly asked Oliur to collect two other candidates to fulfill the requirement for the department’s recruitment board. According to the audio clips, the VC told Oliur that he, Oliur, failed to write his answer to the question of the recruitment test held on October 25, 2022. He also told him that he was not good at his IQ. Also Read: VC’s leaked audio clips: IU postpones 3 departments’ recruitment process The VC advised him over the phone regarding the recruitment test. He assured Oliur that he did not accept the recruitment policy of the University Grants Commission regarding the requirement process of recruiting teachers at Journalism department. IU BCL unit former organising secretary Rasel Joarder told UNB that the vice-chancellor was a corrupt person the audio conversations between him and the job seeker that went viral on social media proved that. Also Read: HC orders Kushtia DC to probe ragging of a female student at IU On Friday night, IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan filed a general diary with Islamic University police station in this connection.

Prof Md Nurul Alam has been appointed the new vice chancellor (VC) of Jahangirnagar University (JU), an Education Ministry notice said on Tuesday. President Abdul Hamid, chancellor of the university, appointed Prof Alam as the new VC as per the Jahangirnagar University Act, according to the ministry’s notification. Nurul Alam is professor of the Department of Physics of the university. Read: Moshtaque Hossain appointed as new VC of RMU Earlier on March 1, he was appointed as the VC on an interim basis for the administrative needs of the University, in addition to his responsibilities as pro-vice chancellor.

Public health specialist Dr Nizam Ahmed has been elected Vice-Chairman of the CSO Consistency Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI), a global alliance of vaccine management. He is the executive director of Shastho Shurokkha Foundation and national telehealth service provider Shastho Batayon. He was elected Vice-Chairman at the GAVI CSO Board Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya recently, said a media release on Wednesday. In continuation of this new responsibility, Dr Nizam as the Vice Chairman of GAVI CSO will work to improve public health and immunization management worldwide, including in Bangladesh and South Asia. Read: Moshtaque Hossain appointed as new VC of RMU A total of 22 experts from around the world (GAVI) serve as members of the CSO Consistency Steering Committee. Dr Nizam said, “I hope that by acting as the Vice Chairman, I will try to coordinate between the government and the private sector in the development of public health in Bangladesh and in obtaining a fair vaccine.”

The agitating students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Monday prevented a team, led by its proctor, from taking food to the vice-chancellor who  been confined to his residence. In the evening Proctor Alamgir Kabir, an associate professor, first went to the students to try to persuade them to end their fast-unto-VC’s resignation protest.  The students refused to break the fast and instead locked into an argument with the official team. Later the team tried to get into the VC’s residence with food, beverages and medicines but it failed to go through the human chain surrounding the place, witnesses said. READ: SUST unrest: Students won’t ‘leave campus’ until VC resigns The proctor said they were concerned about the health of the VC and other teachers trapped inside the residence. One of them already fell ill, he said adding that the VC also has heart disease and his medicines have almost run out. “If we could get in, we could manage to get him some medicines. But there is way now,” he said Meanwhile, at 3.30 pm on Monday, Iliasur Rahman Ilias, councillor of ward 6 of Sylhet City Corporation and Mokhlesur Rahman Kamran, councillor of ward 9 went to visit the VC with foods but they had to return back from the gate because of students’ protest. A group of students of have been on hunger strike for the sixth day Monday with several of them hospitalised as they fell sick. The students vowed to continue the hunger strike until SUST VC Prof Farid Uddin  Ahmed resigns. The hunger strike was launched on January 19, three days after police swooped on the protesting students charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets. The attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building. The clash left at least 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel.   A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints. READ: SUST teachers’ association urges govt to probe ‘police action’ on students She has since the resigned from her post, citing health issues. Provost Zafrin Ahmed’s removal was one of the initial demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now spread to the general students as well. Although there was an hour-long virtual meeting between Education Minister Dipu Moni and the protesting students early Sunday, no solution is in sight yet to break the protracted standoff on the campus. After the meeting, the students remained stuck to their previous decision not to break the fast until he steps down, representatives of the dissenting students told UNB. They claimed that no discussion was held at the meeting over the VC’s removal or sending him on leave. The students said they want to continue the discussion but they will not break the fast. Dipu suggested the students submit their demands in a written form and then she will go for the next step. Meanwhile, the University Teachers Network held a symbolic hunger strike to express solidarity with the protesting students demanding the resignation of the embattled VC on Monday. Teachers gathered in front of Aparajeyo Bangla monument from 12 PM to 3 pm. The teachers’ association of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) urged the government to form a neutral committee to investigate the police action on protesting students on January 16. The association said this after a meeting at the central auditorium of the university on Sunday. The teachers demanded the government take actions against the accused after the investigation. The association announced a four-point charter of demands from the teachers to solve the ongoing unrest on the campus. They sought the government's assistance to do what it takes to break the hunger strike of the protesting students. The association said the government has the jurisdiction over the vice-chancellor’s resignation but it urges an immediate step in this regard. It also urged not to take any violent actions against the students.

The teachers’ association of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) urged the government to form a neutral probe body to investigate the police action on protesting students on January 16. The association said this after holding a meeting at the central auditorium of the university on Sunday. The teachers demanded the government take actions against the accused after the investigation. The association announced a four-point charter of demands from the teachers to solve the ongoing unrest in the campus: They sought the government's assistance to do what it takes to break the hunger strike of the protesting students. The association said the government has the jurisdiction over the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation but it urges an immediate step in this regard. It also urged not to take any violent actions against the students. The unrest at the University deepened on Sunday evening as its protesting students disconnected electricity supply to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence as he refused to step down as per their demand. On day five of the hunger strike, 15 of the 24 students on hunger strike since Wednesday 3 pm remained admitted to different hospitals in the city. On Sunday afternoon, four more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike taking their total number to 27. Earlier, one of the 24 hunger  strikers had to withdraw from the strike due to his relative’s sickness. The students went on the strike unto death demanding resignation of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over the police action on the protesting students as his behest on January 16. The police charged batons, fired sound grenades and shotgun bullets to disperse the protest on Sunday afternoon (Jan 16) while students reacted by throwing brick chips at them. At least 40 people were hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel during the clash Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed was confined to a locked room by the students for three hours before that. A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial troubles as she reportedly misbehaved with some students on January 13. She has already resigned from her post, citing health issues. Zafrin’s removal as the provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the principal demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now escalated to the general students as well.

Twenty-four students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) went on hunger strike unto death on Wednesday demanding the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation while some teachers staged protests against the students’ ‘indecent remarks’ about the VC The students begun the hunger strike around 3pm in front of the residence of the VC as he didn’t not step down today as per their ultimatum. READ: SUST students threaten fast-unto-death if V-C doesn't resign The students said they will continue their hunger strike until the VC resigns. Earlier on Tuesday night, the students set a deadline for the vice-chancellor to resign by 12 pm. They threatened that they will resort to hunger strike unto death if he doesn’t step down by the deadline.

Dr AFM Abdul Moyeen, Professor of Department of Management at Dhaka University, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Comilla University. In this regard, a notification from the Education Ministry signed by Deputy Secretary Md Mahmudul Alam was issued on Sunday. Read:SUST VC attacked and confined by protesting students According to the notification, President Md Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, made the appointment as per the Comilla University Act. Dr AFM Abdul Moyeen will perform his duty as VC for next four year. Prof Dr Md Abu Taher, registrar of Comilla University, said they have not yet received the notification. The current VC Prof Emran Kabir Chowdhury's tenure will end on January 31.

Director of the Institute of Environmental Science of Rajshahi University Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University. A gazette notice was issued Sunday by the Education Ministry confirming the  appointment. READ: The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University President Abdul Hamid, chancellor of the university, appointed Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar in accordance with section 11(2) of the 1973 Act of Rajshahi University, for a 4 year period. READ: Rajshahi University BCL locks up VC He will be provided the salary and conveniences as determined for the current post. He will act his responsibility according to the statute law of the university. The president, as chancellor of the university can set aside the appointment if necessary.

Dhaka University sociology professor Dr Mashiur Rahman has been appointed National University (NU) vice-chancellor for four years. Dr Mashiur, who previously served as NU pro-vice-chancellor, will replace Dr Harun-or-Rashid who completed his second term on March 5. READ: National University starting online classes The education's ministry's Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education issued a notice Sunday, formalising Dr Mashiur's appointment.   READ: National University postpones Saturday’s exams The academic earned a doctor of philosophy degree from Sweden's Lund University and also did his post-doctorate there. READ: National University postpones Sunday’s exams

Jahangirnagar University (UNB) – A section of teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Sunday burned an effigy of the Vice-chancellor Prof. Farzana Islam demanding  her removal.