Students of Dhaka Dental College at Mirpur in the capital continued class boycotts to press the demand for reinstating the previous principal who was recently transferred and made an officer on special duty.
The ongoing unrest at the government run Dhaka Dental College was prompted by removal of principal Abul Kalam Bepari on September 16 when he was made an OSD.
DDC students rejected new principal Humayun Kabir Bulbul, a pro-Awami League dentist. Humayun could not enter his office until Monday due to the non-stop protest demonstrations the students began since September 26 when he was made the principal.
He entered his office on Monday by smashing the academic building’s gate as it was locked by students in protest against his appointment as the principal.
A scuffle occurred between the students and ‘hired outsiders’ in Humayun’s presence on Monday, leaving four students injured. Dozens of police were deployed on the campus on Tuesday to ward off untoward incidents, said the new principal.Students said they would continue with their peaceful demonstrations to press the demand for the reinstatement of Abul Kalam Bepari as the principal.
An organizer of the protest told New Age on Tuesday that the students rejected Humayun’s offer to hold discussions with the students. ‘We cannot talk to a person who brings police on our peaceful campus,’ he said.
Dhaka Dental College Teachers’ Association general secretary Nasirul Islam requested the health minister to intervene to break the stalemate.
Humayun told New Age that he was baffled over the situation though he had nothing to do with removal of the previous principal. ‘It’s a government decision and I would request the students to accept me and return to their classes,’ he said.He said that the senior teachers formed a committee to counsel the students. He said that the committee was expected to sit with the students today.
Health Services director for medical education Abur Rashid declined to comment on the issue. The health minister could not be reached for his comments.
Source:New Age
