United News of Bangladesh

Teachers and staff of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) continued their work abstention for the eight consecutive day on Monday demanding removal of Vice-Chancellor Kazi Rafiqul Islam. The protesters staged demonstration and sit-in programmes on the campus around 11 am on Monday. Teachers, staff members and students under the banner of ‘Unity Alliance’ have been carrying out various protest programmes since May 11 against alleged corruption and irregularities by university’s Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam. During the protest on May 11, outsiders reportedly entered the campus in support of the Vice-Chancellor and carried out attack on the protesters, leaving 30 people injured. Protesting the attack, the anti-VC teachers held a press conference on campus strongly condemning the attack, while students staged demonstrations both inside and outside the campus. They also blocked Dumki–Bauphal–Barishal highway. Later, the university’s Dean Council, teachers, officers, employees, and students announced an indefinite shutdown of the university. Proctor Atikur Rahman and Proctor Abul Bashar Khan said teachers suspended final examinations  in various faculties while general students boycotted classes and joined the movement. Officer-in-Charge of Dumki Police Station Selim Uddin said that three people were arrested after a case was filed over the attack on teachers and university officials  on the campus. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam said he is currently in Dhaka. He also described the movement taking place in his absence as unfortunate and unreasonable. Concerns are growing among general students about the possibility of session delays. In this emerging situation, parents and guardians are calling for intervention from the relevant higher authorities to resolve the crisis.

Barishal University students continued their movement for the third consecutive day on Wednesday to realise their one-point demand that Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Suchitra Sharmin be removed. The students staged sit-in and protest programmes in front of the university’s administrative building around 12:30pm to press home their demand.   They chanted slogans against the VC and sang protest songs there.  The students alleged that the VC has failed to meet their earlier 22-point demand, ignored calls for financial aid for a student who reportedly died due to lack of treatment, favoured cohorts of fascist on the campus, filed cases against students and allowed corruption in development projects. BU students lock admin offices demanding VC’s removal Calling Dr Sharmin the ‘worst VC in the university’s history,’ students said their movement would continue until she is removed from office. The protesters warned that if their demands are not met they would lock the VC’s residence, cut its electricity supply and block road communication between the capital and the southern region of the country. Students Sujoy Shuvo, Azmain Shuvo, and Shahidul Islam Shahed, among others, addressed the protest programme.   

Barishal University students on Monday staged a protest on its campus demanding the resignation of its Vice-Chancellor Dr Shuchita Sharmin. The students staged a sit-in and held a rally in front of the administrative building before bringing out a protest procession in the afternoon. Wahidur Rahman and Mainul Islam from the Law Department and Shahedul Zaman from the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department, among others, addressed the rally. Barishal University students stage protest, block highway for 1hr They said although the students had previously demonstrated with a 22-point demand, the Vice-Chancellor failed to meet those demands. Instead, they alleged, she tried to suppress the movement by filing cases against protestors. The students also accused VC Sharmin of establishing a fascist environment on the campus and were forcing demonstrators to sign undertakings under pressure. In light of these allegations, the students declared that the removal of the Vice-Chancellor is now their one-point demand. Following the sit-in, they brought out a procession, chanting slogans calling for her resignation. The demonstrators also vowed to continue their movement until their demand is met.  

A group of teachers and students continued demonstration defying a ban on Wednesday seeking the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam.

The protesting students and teachers of Jahangirnagar University on Thursday continued their demonstrations on the campus defying ban as they pushed for the VC’s removal.