The agitation by teachers and counter-protest by vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University (JU) Prof Dr Anwar Hossain in front of the VC’s residence continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday. The agitating teachers under the banner of General Teachers’ Forum have been demanding the VC’s resignation. On the other hand, Prof. Anwar expressed that and his wife Ayesha Akter would continue the protest until the teachers withdrew their sit-in from near his residence. The VC said it was against the law to stage a sit-in in front of somebody’s residence. “Such irrational and inhuman attitude of the agitating teachers will worsen the crisis,” he said.
The teachers had resumed their demonstrations after a month on Tuesday after calling off their earlier agitation till September 24, which was the deadline of a probe report submission.
The teachers’ forum has vowed to persist with their protest till the VC was removed and termed his sit-in as a drama, as his residence entrance was open.
A committee formed by the government to look into Jahangirnagar University affairs has submitted its report,
which triggered the confrontation between agitating teachers and the VC.
The agitating teachers have been boycotting classes and examinations, which has affected the academic schedule of the university. The intervention of President Abdul Hamid, who is also the university chancellor, immediately needed to restore peaceful academic atmosphere on the campus.
Meanwhile, some teachers have confined Registrar Abu Bakar Siddique and Deputy Registrar Abu Hasan to their offices since Monday in protest against the appointments of three deans to the faculties of law, business administration, and biological science.
The protesters said the VC could not recruit the three as an investigation was underway against him. Protesting the confinement of the registrar, JU Employee’s Association staged a rally in front of the registrar building and went on work abstention for an indefinite period. Teachers have been staging demonstrations intermittently since April 27, accusing Prof Anwar of failing to expel a BCL leader for assaulting a teacher, committing alleged irregularities in recruitments, false information delivery to media about the university and teachers, and misusing university funds.
-With The Independent input
