Jahangirnagar University (JU) vice-chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain has decided to resign from his position by January 24. The VC made the announcement at a press conference, at JU Senate hall Thursday his meeting with the parliamentary standing committee. “Immediately after completing all the procedure to hold VC panel election, I’ll be back to Dhaka University before the national election,” the VC said. The parliamentary committee also asked the VC not to fight at the panel election.
The VC also unveiled the schedule for holding JU Central Student Union election on December 6 asking all teachers to cooperate with him. “I hope the agitating teachers will also abide by the agreement withdrawing their movement”, he added.
Shadharon Shikkhak Forum, a platform of teachers, demanded his immediate resignation at another press conference, held on the campus. The teachers’ forum claimed that the parliamentary standing committee asked the VC to resign immediately.
They said: “We have no confidence in the incumbent VC and he should have no role in holding senate, syndicate, JUCSU and dean elections.”
“We have agreed to cooperate in arranging VC panel polls only,” said Prof Kamrul Ahsan, secretary of General Teachers’ Forum. “We will not cooperate with the VC in any activities except VC panel polls,” he added. In the meantime, JU Teachers Association (JUTA) is on work abstention as per their fresh week-long protest over the VC’s resignation and will start all-out strike would be initiated from November 1 if the VC does not resign by October 30, said Prof Ajit Kumar, president of JUTA.
The meeting of parliamentary standing committee on the Education Ministry was held on October 23. It was chaired by Rashed Khan Menon while Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and Secretary Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury were present among others, where, from JU side, VC Prof Anwar and convener and secretariat member of the teachers’ forum also attended.
-With The Independent input
