BCL stages demo demanding jobs

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists of Islamic University (IU) on Sunday staged a demonstration demanding jobs.

More than a hundred former and current BCL activists staged the demonstration in front of the main gate of the university, locking the general students and officials inside the campus.

The university officials said the recruitment process of 30 teachers and officials of the university will start on Monday.

The BCL activists want recruitment to the vacant posts.

Officials on Sunday afternoon said a team of BCL leaders and activists met the university vice-chancellor, Harun-ur-Rashid Askari, demanding the jobs.

The VC, however, declined, and said that the university ‘does not need any Chhatra League activists’.

Protesting the VC’s comment, the BCL men locked the main gate of the university twice, between 2:00pm-3:00pm and 4:30pm-5:00pm.

Former joint general secretary of the BCL unit Mahbub Hossain, former leaders, Raju, Shiblu, Ilias Joaddar and Newton, along with over a hundred others, took part in the demonstration.

Salahuddin Ahmed and Mostafa Kamal, two leaders of the BCL group backed by its president Shahinur Rahman, also joined the protest.

The BCL leaders suspended their demonstration after receiving assurances from the university BCL president Shahinur Rahman and general secretary Jewel Rana.

They gave the university authorities a deadline till 8:30pm in this regard.

As the main gate was shut, the buses on the Kushtia-Jhenaidah and Kushtia-Shoulkupa routes remained stuck inside the campus.

Former joint general secretary Mahbub Hossain said around 15-20 applicants including him were among the demonstrators.

As the recruitment will start on Monday, they must be given recruitment within this time, he said.

Mahbub Hossain also told journalists that the demonstration will continue until a decision is taken.

BCL president of the university unit Shahinur Rahman said, “We went to the VC to place recommendations for the seniors. This situation emerged as the VC’s comments agitated the leaders and activists.”

VC Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari has not been answering his phone.

IU proctor Mahbubur Rahman said no one would be allowed to create unrest on campus. “We are ready to do everything to keep the campus peaceful.”