Pabna Univ of Science and Technology: Students besiege VC’s residence
Students of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) besieged the vice chancellor’s residence yesterday morning, demanding removal of the VC, proctor and student adviser bringing allegation of corruption and irregularities against them.
Students have been demonstrating since Tuesday to press home their 12-point demand, after the authorities issued show-cause notices to three teachers for “raising voice against corruption and irregularities by the authorities”.
They, however, started demanding removal of VC Dr Rostom Ali, proctor and student adviser since Wednesday.
Students’ demands include: proper investigation into issuing the show-cause notices and resolving their longstanding problems such as forming an alumni association, holding a convocation, scholarships for impoverished students and allocating funds for research.
“The authorities are reluctant to meet our demands, that’s why we are demonstrating,” said Mahmud Kamal Tuhin, vice president of Chhatra League unit of PUST.
On Saturday, university authorities issued the notices, bringing allegation that the teachers’ comments on Facebook had defamed the VC.
The teachers -- Kamrul Hasan of urban and regional planning department; Kamal Hossain of BBA faculty and Yeahia Bepari of economics -- recently commented on Facebook about a job aspirant at the university’s history department.
On October 24, a conversation allegedly between the VC and job aspirant went viral, where the aspirant was heard asking back Tk 8 lakh from the VC as he did not pass the recruitment test.
Rejecting the allegations, the VC said, “It’s a pre-planned conspiracy to tarnish my image.”
The university authorities held a meeting in the VC’s residence in the afternoon. Contacted, Proctor Dr Pritam Kumar said, “We’re trying to come up with a solution soon.”
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