A faction of Awami League-backed Jahangirnagar University (JU) teachers on Tuesday (24 JULY) laid a siege to the two administrative building for several hours.
In the demonstration they protested the alleged ‘law violation’ by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Farzana Islam.
The teachers, led by former JU VC Prof Sharif Enamul Kabir, under the banner of ‘Bangabandhur Adarsha O Muktijuddher Chetonay Bishwashi Progotishil Shikkhak Samaj’ began their siege programme around 8:30 am.
Around 20 teachers from different faculties took position in front of the old administrative building locking the main entrance of the building. They also kept the new administrative building locked till 4:00pm.
Due to the protest, the university administration was compelled to cancel four selection boards of several departments, said JU VC Prof Farzana Islam who also could not join her office.
Spokesperson of the protesting group, Associate Professor Farid Ahmed, said university’s regular syndicate meeting was not held for 10 months resulting in delays in the process of teachers’ promotion, students’ certificate approvals, and different departments’ results.
The protesting teachers alleged, “Recently the VC appointed the dean of law faculty and head of the provost committee without any election, which is clearly the violation of university’s law.”
They also termed the terminating of nine hall provosts as ‘illegall’ in the demonstration programme.
Protestors also demanded for immediate elections to VC-panel and JU Central Students' Union (JUCSU).
They threatened to go for tougher movement if any further irregularities occur in the university.
The VC, Farzana Islam termed the protest programme ‘illogical’. She told UNB that “Without any notification blocking off the administrative building is clearly violation of university rules.”
She also said her administration would take steps against the protesters.
Farzana Islam, an Anthropology Department Professor, was reappointed for the second time as the JU VC for four years in February 18 and afterwards this teachers’ group brought several allegations of her alleged law violation and irregularities.
Source:(UNB)
