Minister assures them of probe into allegations
The Jahangirnagar University teachers rallying for the resignation of the vice-chancellor, Anwar Hossain, on Saturday night called off their programme of siege for 15 days after the education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, earlier assured them of looking into the matter after an investigation.
A group of teachers teamed up as General Teachers’ Forum, later joined in by others, had laid siege to the vice-chancellor’s office for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday demanding his resignation. Two other groups of teachers were, however, opposing the teachers who are rallying against Anwar.
The teachers’ forum’s member secretary Kamrul Ahsan at a press conference on the campus about 11:45pm said that they were calling off the siege of the vice-chancellor’s office for 15 days.
‘We have made the decision based on the assurance the education minister gave us at the meeting at night. We hope that all our demands will be met,’ he said.
Anwar Hossain, who had been inside his office as the programme of siege continued, reached his residence about 1:30am. Coming out of confinement, he told journalists that he had also wanted such an investigation committee. ‘It is a good decision.’
The education minister on Saturday night said that the ministry would set up a committee to investigate allegations that have been levelled against the vice-chancellor.
The education secretary, Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, told reporters that the ministry was likely to set up the investigation committee today.
Three teachers and officials attending the meeting said that the meeting had decided that investigation committee would submit its report in 15 days.
‘The teachers proposed that Anwar should be sent on leave for the duration of the investigation and a pro-vice-chancellor should be acting as vice-chancellor for the period,’ a teacher said.
Nahid, who met the teachers at his residence about 10:00pm, said that they had assured the teachers of looking into their demands after the investigation.
The teacher’s forum president, Hanif Ali, earlier said that the discussion with the minister was ‘fruitful’ and they would make their position public on reaching the campus.
A 17-member delegation, including Hanif, had attended the meeting that began about 5:00pm and ended about 9:45pm.
About 150 teachers showed black flags to the vice-chancellor on Saturday when they also began a three-day strike.
The General Teachers’ Forum general secretary, Kamrul Ahsan, said that most of the teachers, including deans, senate and syndicate members, provosts and department chairs, were demanding Anwar’s resignation as vice-chancellor.
Anwar once again termed the teachers’ demand ‘baseless and illogical.’ He added that he would resign if the chancellor asked him to do so.
The Progressive Students Alliance on the day brought out a procession on the campus demanding an end to the impasse and the resumption of academic activities at the earliest.
Some students teamed up as General Students on Saturday brought out a silent procession on the campus demanding the continuation of day-to-day academic and administrative activities in the university.
No classes or exams were held for the third straight day and the transport services of the university remained suspended.
The General Teachers’ Forum also issued a statement, signed by 370 teachers, levelling charges against the vice-chancellor.
The charges include no trial of the assault on teachers, freedom fighter’s quota violation, recruitment of incompetent people as teachers, harsh comments against teachers to the media, no steps regarding the violence that took place on August 1 and February 12, ruining the campus environment, misusing university funds, and forcibly entering the vice-chancellor’s office by ignoring the demonstrations of the teachers.
The Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association since April 27 had demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellor, accusing him of not taking punitive measures against the university unit Chhatra League’s general secretary Razib Ahmed Rasel for assaulting economics department lecturer Nurul Haqu, also a syndicate member, on April 6.
On July 24, the High Court, in response to a petition filed by four teachers and a student, had directed the university authorities to immediately take necessary steps for the continuation of day-to-day functions of the university.
The Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association, however, called off its agitation programmes on July 30 after the July 24 High Court order but the General Teachers’ Forum was set up and the agitation continued.
Jahangirnagar University experienced several rounds of movement in the past three years which disrupted academic activities.
Anwar assumed office of the vice-chancellor after his predecessor Sharif Enamul Kabir resigned in the face of protests by students and teachers over ‘irregularities’ and ‘nepotism’ in the appointment of teachers on May 17, 2012.
Anwar was later elected the vice-chancellor through the university senate.
-With New Age input
