11 Sust students on hunger strike
Eleven students of the physics department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) started a hunger strike from 11am yesterday, protesting a March 4 circular that declared all classes and examinations of the department suspended.
Demanding immediate resumption of classes, more than a hundred students of the department joined them in a sit-in in front of the academic building-A of the university.
Head of the department Prof Shumsun Naher Begum, who signed the circular, said, "A misunderstanding took place between students and some teachers during the 30-year celebration of the department on February 29. On March 3, some students misbehaved with us [teachers] while we were in a discussion with them to solve the misunderstanding."
"To protest this behaviour, all teachers [of the department] agreed to not conduct classes and called an indefinite suspension," she added.
However, some students allege that the saga began after the department head's husband misbehaved with a female student at the celebration programme.
"When we demanded an apology, no one cared; even the student advisor of the department insulted some students there," a protesting student said.
After the altercation, the students placed a four-point demand on March 3, including resignation of the student advisor; appointment of a new advisor from a provided list; the head and the advisor can not conduct any classes and examinations of the victim student; and the department head must accept accountability for the incident.
Prof Shumsun Naher said, "My husband is a teacher of Murari Chand College and an alumnus of the department. On the day of the programme, it was merely a misunderstanding and we assured the students of sorting this out. But they were rude with us then, and again later at a meeting to discuss the incident," adding, "We formed a committee to look into the matter from the very beginning of the problem."
"It has become a question of our honour, which is why we have suspended the classes and examinations," she stated.
Dr Md Shajedul Karim, dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Technology, said, "I was in communication with the students from the very start, even today (yesterday). I assured them of a proper solution and am waiting for them to show wisdom and withdraw the hunger strike."
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