Jahangirnagar University ‘VC should be sacked’
Teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University have been continuing their demonstrations demanding resignation of the vice chancellor professor Farzana Islam ignoring the order to vacate the dormitories.
The demonstrating teachers and students called on the chancellor president Abdul Hamid to sack the “corrupt” and “failed” VC.
They also asked the officials of the university’s administration building to leave. They also brought out a protest rally around 10:30 in the morning.
The demonstration is underway on demand of sacking of the vice chancellor, protesting the order to shut down the campus and attack on the demonstrating students and teachers by the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Female students also joined the protest procession when it reached their residential halls.
A solidarity rally was held in front of the university’s old administration building with similar demands.
University’s Arts and Humanities faculty dean professor Mozammel Hoque took part in the rally and expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.
Addressing the rally, economics department professor Sormindo Nilormi said, “Those who fail to realise the aspirations of general students cannot stay in power. Those who want to stay in power taking resort to force are worst kind of people. This vice chancellor should be sacked for using Chhatra League men to attack the demonstrating teachers and students.”
Philosophy department professor Kamrul Ahsan said, “The movement began on demand of corruption allegations against the vice chancellor but the frightened VC did not want to face the investigation committee. Instead she has been telling lies in consonant with changing dates (of investigation). Farzana Islam does not have the moral qualifications not only to stay as a VC but also as a university teacher after such shameless lies.”
Chemistry department student Tazrin Islam said, “This vice chancellor has destroyed the university’s pride. She wants to stay in power using Chhatra League against the demonstrating teachers and students. Then she told the media that she is proud (of BCL men). This is a shame for the university.”
Zoology department associate professor Abdur Razzaq said, “The vice chancellor has done a heinous crime calling my students Chhatra Shibir men in front of me and beating them. This is a shame for me, for my teaching career. I teach these BCL leaders and activists, too.”
Professor Anu Muhammad, professor Rayhan Rhine, professor Tapan Kumar Saha, professor Sayeed Ferdous, professor Mirza Taslima Sultana, professor Kamul Ahsan, professor Anwarullah Bhuiyan, professor Abdur Razzaq, professor Khabir Uddin, professor Kabirul Bashar, Dhaka University’s international relations department professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan were also present at the rally and expressed their solidarity with the demonstrating teachers and students.
Earlier, the protesters confined the VC to her residence since Monday afternoon. Later, around 12pm on Tuesday, the BCL leaders and activists attacked the demonstrating teachers and students, leaving at least 30 injured in front of the VC’s residence.
Following the BCL attack, the university syndicate held an emergency meeting and decided to shut down the university for an indefinite period. Later, the university administration asked the students to vacate the residential halls by 5:30pm. But students from all the residential halls brought out protest processions on the campus.
The demonstrators vowed to continue the movement until the VC is sacked.
Later, the university administration again asked the students to vacate halls by 1:00pm today but the students have been continuing the movement.