Students’ demand to reopen campus logical: DU VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr Akhteruzzaman said the students' demand to reopen the campus is logical and they have no disagreement with the movement by students.

He said this when The Daily Star contacted him for his comment regarding students' movement to reopen the campus immediately.

A large number of students have submitted a memorandum to the VC of DU this noon demanding to reopen the campus rejecting the decision of the government to extend the ongoing holiday of all educational institutions.

After submitting the memorandum, the students held a discussion with the VC.

At one point of the discussion, VC Aktheruzzaman allegedly termed students who have been writing on Facebook in favour of reopening the campus "mentally deranged."

On top of that, the VC also allegedly asked the Proctor to take steps against those involved in writing on Facebook to reopen the campus.

When asked about the allegations, VC Akhteruzzaman said, "We are complying with the movement of the students…Their demand to come to the campus is normal. This demand is logical."

Mentioning the direction of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the VC said, "The premier has instructed for opening educational institutions by completing the inoculation programme of the students."

Asif Mahmud, a student of Linguistic Department told The Daily Star, "The Vice-Chancellor said they have no chance to go beyond the decision of the education ministry when we raised our demand."

VC Akhteruzzaman said that they had a fruitful discussion with the students saying that he did not understand why the students were making such allegations.

In the memorandum, the students raised three demands. They are: not to extend the holiday of educational institutions after May 29, to reopen the campus immediately following health guidelines and to ensure the security of all students in the campus.