Begum Rokeya University: A vice-chancellor largely missing

Teachers and officials of Rangpur's Begum Rokeya University have been resentful as its vice-chancellor (VC) left the campus, for the second time since March, without meeting with them, even after they waited for hours in front of his official on-campus residence on Friday.

VC Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalim Ullah visited the campus on Friday for a couple of hours, said campus sources, adding that a section of teachers and officials of BRU has been demonstrating for long against the VC's prolonged absence.

He prefers staying in Dhaka, said the teachers.

Campus sources further said the VC came to the campus at around 9:00am and went straight to his official residence.

Hearing about his arrival at the campus, teachers and officials of the university gathered in front of his official residence at around 11:00am, said the VC's personal secretary, Md Aminul Islam, after he joined the agitating teachers.

Professor Dr Motiur Rahman, convener of BRU's Rights Protection Council comprised of teachers, attempted several times to contact the VC during the demonstration but failed.

Around 2:30pm, they came to know that the VC left the campus although they were present at the entrance of his official residence.

The arrival and departure at the official residence took place through the back door, said Professor Dr Motiur Rahman. "The prolonged absence of the VC on campus has affected the academic and administrative activities, he said.

The VC is misusing his post, he alleged.

"We want a solution to the problem, as such a situation cannot be allowed to continue", he told The Daily Star over phone on Saturday, adding, "The VC does not want to meet any teachers and officials." 

Tuhin Wadud, a Bangla Department teacher, said BRU teachers and officials had been staging demonstration against the VC's absence, who is supposed to spend most of his time on campus.

He attended his office only 200 days out of 1,300 official days, Tuhin said.

This paper could not contact the VC Nazmul as his mobile was found switched off.