A section of teachers at Jahangirnagar University continued with their sit-in for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday in front of vice-chancellor Anwar Hossain’s residence demanding his resignation.
They also set Anwar’s effigies on fire.
Anwar also continued his stay in front of his residence in protest against the sit-in of the section of teachers, General Teachers Forum. He, however, performed his duties as usual.
The classes and exams at the university remained suspended since September 28, when the forum began agitations for Anwar’s resignation.
The agitating teachers brought out a procession on the campus and hoisted black flags on Saturday.
They said that they would continue their protests until Anwar resigned as the vice-chancellor.
Anwar also reiterated that he would not step down amidst ‘unjust’ protests. ‘There is no reason for me to resign,’ he told reporters.
The striking teachers accused Anwar of making whimsical comments, destroying the academic atmosphere on the campus and maintaining relations with a particular group of teachers.
Anwar denied the allegations.
The forum convener Hanif Ali said, ‘We will continue our sit-in until the vice-chancellor resigns and cancels illegal appointment of three deans.’
Forum secretariat member Kamrul Ahsan, however, said that their only demand was the vice-chancellor’s resignation and Anwar was ‘staging drama’ staying in front of his residence, which remained unlocked.
Anwar said that the teachers’ demand was irrational and they were violating a High Court ruling that had ordered no interruption in regular activities at the university.
The striking teachers also had kept confined registrar Abu Bakkar Siddque and deputy registrar (academic) Abul Hasan for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday, demanding the cancellation of appointments of three deans.
Jahangirnagar University Officers Association, however, has been demonstrating since October 3 protesting against the ‘illegal’ confinement of the registrar and deputy registrar.
The association general secretary Abdur Rahman Bablu told reporters, ‘We would continue our work abstention until the teachers withdrew their confinement.’
-With New Age input
