In the name of student welfare!

Around 2,200 elated students and their guardians started arriving at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur early morning yesterday.

For newly-admitted students, the day was special. It was after all their official induction to the university through an orientation programme. At the event, not only would they get to meet fellow students and roam around the campus, but also a chance to hear from teachers.

Students, however, were in for a shock: the first thing they saw after coming to the campus was a vandalised stage. That shock turned to disappointment as they found out the event got cancelled due to Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists’ demonstrations the night before.

The incident took place centring a circular over manpower recruitment, which resulted in the two factions of the pro-Awami League student organisation demonstrating on the campus, locking the administration building and vandalising the stage, said university sources.

A tense situation was prevailing on the campus, they added.

Mentionable, the university has no BCL committee.

“My daughter and I came here from Natore as she wanted to attend the event. Now we hear that some Chhatra League activists on the campus are protesting and the event got cancelled,” said Ibrahim Khalil, a guardian.

Like the father and daughter, all the students and guardians had to leave the campus and go back to their respective districts frustrated.

Many also blamed the university authorities for not taking any prompt action like publishing a notice in this regard or arranging an alternative for freshers.

“We don’t know what will happen. The authorities should have handled the situation better,” said Jahanara Begum, a guardian from Rangpur.

According to witnesses, tension started brewing from Sunday evening as the university authorities published the circular on its website to recruit manpower.

It apparently disheartened many BCL leaders, who wanted the jobs for themselves, said teachers, wishing anonymity. The teachers also alleged that BCL leaders had been pressurising the authorities for the last couple of months to publish the circular, even though they do not meet many criteria to apply for those.

After seeing the circular, BCL activists went on a rampage in the evening. They broke window panes of buildings, held demonstrations and early yesterday foiled the orientation programme, said witnesses.

They also locked the administration building and brought out multiple processions under two factions.

Both the faction, however, said they were protesting on behalf of general students. One faction said they were rallying to realise their 13-point demand while the other 11-point demand.

Their demands include immediate solution to the shortage of classrooms and laboratory facilities, reducing various fees, increasing transportation facilities and dormitories for students and removing officials with BNP-Jamaat connection.

The both factions also threatened to go for tougher protests if their demands are not met.

Teachers, however, said BCL activists were using the demands as a “shield”. They are creating chaos on the campus to put pressure on the authorities to republish the circular.

Contacted, Rony and Pallab Hossain, leaders of the factions, said they have no interest in the job circular and are staging demonstrations for the betterment of the university and students.

When pointed out if they are protesting for students’ welfare then why they foiled the orientation event, both denied their involvement.

Confirming the day’s incidents, Registrar Prof Fazlul Haque said a tense situation is prevailing on the campus following BCL demonstrations. “We had no other option but to cancel the orientation to avoid any untoward incident,” he added.

He said they will not hold a joint event for the new students. “Rather, all departments will arrange individual orientation programmes as early as possible and students will be notified beforehand through our website,” said the registrar. He, however, did not want to say anything regarding the job circular.

Regarding BCL demands, he said the university authorities will hold a meeting in this regard soon.

Despite repeated attempts, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Abul Kashem could not be contacted for comments.