Protesters confine Jahangirnagar University VC demanding her resignation
The students and teachers were staging demonstration in front of the VC’s house till filing of this report around 9:00 pm
A faction of the agitating teachers and the students of Jahangirnagar University under the banner of "Durnitir Biruddhe Jahangirnagar" confined the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university confined to her house on Monday evening demanding her resignation.
Around 25 teachers joined over one hundred agitating students in the demonstration.
The students and teachers were staging demonstration in front of the VC's house till filing of this report around 9:00 pm on Monday.
This latest episode took place after the education minister held a meeting with seven of the agitating teachers of the university at her residence in the capital and requested them to call off their movement. She assured them of taking necessary measures to resolve the ongoing problem.
But, 14 hours after the meeting, the teachers and students announced to continue their movement. They made the announcement at a press conference in front of the Old Registrar Building of the university on Monday noon.
Professor Rayhan Reyan, spokesperson of the movement, said, "We informed the education minister about the corruption, irregularities and undemocratic attitude of the vice-chancellor. She assured us that she would place our demands before the prime minister."
"The minister asked us to submit a written allegation. We will submit it soon. She also requested us to withdraw the agitation but we cannot call off it before seeing any fruitful initiative to remove the VC," Rayhan Reyan said.
The activists have been waging a protest since August 23 demanding the relocation of 3 new dormitories scheduled to be built near Rabindranath Hall, and a proper probe into the corruption allegations regarding the approval of these mega-projects.
It is alleged that Vice-Chancellor of the university Professor Farzana Islam gave unethical financial benefit to the leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Mahathir Mohammad, president of Chhatra Front of Jahangirnagar University unit, said, everyone is well aware of the corruption of the VC. There is no logical ground to remain on the post.
Meanwhile, a group of teachers loyal to the VC have been also observing different programmes including human chain demanding creation of congenial atmosphere on the campus.