SUST students continue protests, demand VC’s resignation
Several hundred students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have agitated on Sunday night demanding resignation of the vice chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed.
The students started their agitation, protesting police attack on students on Sunday and the authorities’ decision to shut the campus sine die.
Some students also brought out a procession on Monday morning while some students were seen leaving the residential halls.
The SUST authorities asked residential students of five halls to vacate the hall within 12 in the noon on Monday. VC Farid declared the university shut on Sunday night following an emergency syndicate meeting.
Immediately after the announcement, students of three residential halls brought out a procession protesting the decision of the authorities. The students continued their agitation till 12:30 in the night. They blamed the university authorities for ordering police to carry out attack on students on Sunday evening.
Proctor Alamgir Kabir told Prothom Alo at around 9:30am that students started to vacate and the situation is calm so far.
The students of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury hall have been protesting since Thursday to have their three-point demand met by the authorities.
The demands include the removal of the hall provost Jafrin Ahmed and punishment of those who earlier attacked them. On Thursday night, students of the hall gathered outside VC's residence protesting alleged misbehaviour with them by the hall provost.
The ruling party student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men allegedly attack the protesters on Saturday.
On Sunday, students confined the VC to a room of ICT building to press home their demands.
At around 5:30pm, the police attacked the protesting students to free the VC from confinement. At least 50 students, 10 policemen, some teachers and journalists were injured during the clashes.
Meanwhile, Sirajunnesa Chowdhury hall provost Jafrin Ahmed resigned from the post on "personal reasons".
VC Farid Uddin Ahmed said Jafrin has been replaced by professor Nazia Chowdhury.