JU protest demanding VC’s removal enters fifth day

A faction of protesting students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Thursday claimed that vice chancellor Farzana Islam has lost the moral authority to stay in her post, reports UNB. 

A section of JU teachers and students continued their protest programme for a fifth consecutive day, specifically demanding the removal of professor Farzana Islam from the VC post for her allegedly corruption and other irregularities relating to a large-scale development project for the university.

Rakibul Rony, a member of the left-aligned Bangladesh Students Union’s JU unit, relayed how “everybody knows” that the VC had indeed given commission to the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders. Three BCL activists have already confessed to receiving their cuts.

BCL is the student wing of ruling Awami League.

“The VC has lost the moral authority to hold on to her post. She should resign from her position keeping her honour at least,” Rakibul added.

Over 70 teachers and students brought out the procession around 1:00pm on Thursday with black flag from the social science faculty building under the banner of Jahangirnagar Against Corruption amid tests attended by thousands of admission seekers.

Professor Khabir Uddin of Environmental Sciences Department of JU said, “We had given the VC an ultimatum till 1 October. If she doesn’t resign before that date, we’ll besiege her wherever we find her.”

Students started protests on 23 August demanding judicial inquiry into the reported involvement of the vice-chancellor and her family in corruption and mismanagement of the Tk 14.45 billion campus development project.

Teachers and students demanded resignation of the VC as an initiative to launch a judicial inquiry faltered on 18 September.

It has been alleged that the VC managed the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) JU unit leaders with Tk 16 million from the development fund.