Anti-VC teachers ‘assaulted’ on JU campus

A group of teachers, who are protesting against the alleged irregularities of the current vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, were allegedly assaulted at campus today.

Our campus correspondent reports, they locked in a scuffle with teachers in support of the VC at transport gate during a demonstration attempt around 4:30am.

Later around noon, around 60 teachers in favor of the VC formed a human chain in front of the JU administration building protesting the “ongoing crisis at campus” created by the anti-VC faction.

“A faction of the teachers illegally enforced strike on the campus within a short notice,” said Prof Sohel Ahmed, ex-proctor of the university. He denied the incident of “assault” on the protesting faction.

A faction of pro-Awami League (AL) backed teachers loyal to ex-VC Prof Sharif Enamul Kabir called the strike today to protest the violation of university acts, statutes and syndicate conducting rules under the banner of ‘Bangabandhur Adarsha O Muktijuddher Chetonay Bishwashi Progotishil Shikkhok Shomaj’.

Due to the strike, regular classes and examination were hampered in several departments.

The protesters alleged that the VC forcibly dismissed nine hall provosts on April 11 from their respective dormitories by exercising special rights and appointed new provosts.

According to the statute, the provost of a hall shall be appointed by the syndicate and shall hold office for such periods and on such terms and conditions as the syndicate may determine. But JU VC appointed new provosts without syndicate’s decision, they added.

These teachers also alleged that, JU VC made some persons as provosts who had involvement with several controversial activities on the campus.

However, JU Vice Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam denied all the allegations and said, “The vice chancellor can appoint any person in any post temporarily with special order. It is not violation of act”.

She also urged the teachers to observe strike peacefully.