Teachers’ association urges authorities to end deadlock

Teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) yesterday expressed concerns over the deadlock at the university as a result of the ongoing students’ demonstrations.

In a statement, the Teachers’ Association of the university urged the university authorities to solve the crisis as soon as possible.

“A deadlock is prevailing in the academic and administrative activities due to ongoing protest of the students. The Teachers’ Association is expressing deep concern as no effective steps were seen to be taken from the authorities’ end. We are urging the authorities to bring back normalcy to the campus by resolving the crisis,” reads the statement.

Meanwhile, Buet students yesterday continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day, to press home their 16-point demand including cancellation of the recruitment order of director of students’ welfare.

The protesters are boycotting all academic activities, and have locked up the administrative building and the office of the university’s vice-chancellor.

Ever since the students started their agitation over their 16-point demand, the vice-chancellor has not attended his office. Deans of different departments talked to the students, but could not give them any proper solution, said agitating students.

They staged a sit-in in front of the campus Shaheed Minar from 11am till 2:30pm, blocking the Palashi-Bakshibazar road.

BCL LEADERS MEET EDU MINISTER

Meanwhile, leaders of Buet unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, along with central leaders of the pro-Awami League student organisation, met Education Minister Dipu Moni yesterday, to seek a solution to the crisis.

“We informed the minister of the students’ 16-point demand,” president of Buet’s BCL unit Jamius Sunny told The Daily Star. “The minister assured that she would instruct university authorities to immediately resolve the issues that can be addressed in a short time. Other issues will also be communicated to the authorities, the minister assured us,” he added.

BCL central President Rezwanul Haque, General Secretary Golam Rabbani and Buet unit general secretary Md Rasel also attended the meeting, Sunny said.