BSMRSTU students defy order to vacate halls

Students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) in Gopalganj continued demonstration on Saturday, defying an order to vacate the residential halls, reports news agency UNB.

A notice signed by registrar professor Md Nuruddin Ahmed said the authorities extended the Durga Puja vacation from 22 September till 3 October after consulting members of the Regent Board.

“The decision was taken to control the current situation and resolve the disagreement among groups in the university,” according to the notice published on the university’s website.

During a visit to the campus around 11:00am, the UNB correspondent saw protesting students demanding resignation of vice chancellor professor Khondoker Nasiruddin.

The students were ordered to leave halls within 10:00am.

A number of police personnel were seen on the campus. Gopalganj Sadar police station officer-in-charge Monirul islam said BSMRSTU authorities had asked them to come.

Students alleged that there was no freedom of speech on the campus and that no-one could speak against irregularities of the VC.

BSMRSTU’s decision to suspend its student Fatema-tuz-Zinia, also the university correspondent of the Daily Sun, on 10 September for her ‘objectionable’ writings on Facebook triggered a student protest.

Her suspension order was revoked on Wednesday following widespread protests.