Academic activities at three public universities are being hampered seriously as teachers are on an indefinite work abstention programme over various issues.
At Jahangirnagar University, a section of teachers started infinite work abstention on April 25 over the attack on a teacher of economics department by a Chhtra League JU unit leader on April 6.
Following the incident, the JU Teachers Association started boycotting classes and examinations to protest at the attack on teacher.
Nearly all teachers of all departments at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology went on a work abstention for an indefinite period on Monday to press home their four-point demand on January 2.
Teachers of Khulna University started refraining from all academic activities for an indefinite period on Tuesday to press home their three-point demand, including punishment of those who attacked a teacher.
At Jahangirnagar University classes and examinations of most of department have remained stalled since April 25 as a teachers’ section went on work abstention for an indefinite period protesting at the attack on Nurul Haque, a teacher and also syndicate member of the university, by a BCL leader.
BCL JU unit general secretary Razib Ahmed Rassel, along with his associates, assaulted the teacher over a trifling matter at the university Prantik gate on April 6.
Later, protesting at the incident, the teachers besieged the VC’s residence, demanding punishment of the attackers.
Although the VC expelled Razib verbally, no notice was issued in this regard.
Meanwhile, JUTA has issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding resignation of vice-chancellor following the circulation of a audio clip, claimed to be of the VC, in which he allegedly asked Bangladesh Chhatra League activists to be prepared with bamboo sticks to take action against the agitating teachers and said the movement against him was being carried out by the agents of Hefajat, Jamaat-Shibir and BNP.
Although at a press conference, the VC said an audio clip circulated by unknown quarters through mobile had faked his voice.
Later, at a counter press conference, JUTA alleged that the VC had been resorting to falsehood over many incidents on the campus since his appointment in July 2012.
No classes and scheduled examinations were held at the university since the teachers stated the strike.
Students of the most of the departments have expressed deep concern over the stalemate on the campus.
‘Our honours final examination is supposed to be held on April 27 which has been postponed for an indefinite period because of the teachers’ demonstration,’ Golam Moazzam, a fourth year student of geography and environment department, told New Age.
At KUET, no classes and scheduled examinations were held at most of the departments on Thursday as teachers of all departments started work abstention for an indefinite period to press home fourth-point demand.
The demands are disclosure of the probe report on the incident of physical assault on Professor Arif Hossain on the campus on January 2, punishment for posting vulgar remarks on facebook and blog about a teacher of civil engineering department on March 4, disgraceful slogans on campus raised by a group of students against head of mechanical engineering department Prof Muhammod Masud and vandalism committed on the private car of a teacher of electrical and electronics department of the university on April 2.
KUET Teachers Association general secretary Professor Faruk Hossain has threatened that they will go for tougher movements if their demands are not met by May 13.
Teachers of Khulna University on Tuesday started work abstention for an indefinite period to press home their three-point demands.
No classes and examination were held since the strike began, Mostafa Kamal, a student of fisheries department, told New Age.
The demands include arrest and exemplary punishment to those who masterminded attack on general secretary of KU Teachers’ Association ARM Mostafizur Rahman on April 26, and legal and departmental action against former vice-chancellor Professor Saifuddin Shah for grabbing and selling land of the university.
Vice-chancellor Professor Fayekuzzaman said he would sit with the teachers very soon to resolve the crisis.
-With New Age input
