Over half of HSTU teachers to boycott admission test today
A faction of teachers of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur has decided to boycott this year's admission test scheduled to begin today (Sunday), protesting various administrative irregularities.
About 120 teachers of the university out of 220 under Progressive Teachers Forum, a pro-Awami League body at HSTU, will boycott the admission test for students' enrolment this year.
Due to the teachers' agitation the admission test, previously schedule for December 10, was deferred for 40 days, forcing the university authorities to hurriedly announce the annual winter vacation on December 2 while students were asked to vacate their dormitories with immediate effect.
After a month-long vacation the university opened on January 3.
Although admission test of 42 public universities in the country out of 43 have already been held, it could not be completed at HSTU due to the teachers' agitation.
Moreover, orientations of newly enrolled students at other public universities have already begun.
According to HSTU officials, about 61 assistant professors of the university have been agitating and boycotting their classes for the last two months, protesting discrimination in pay scale.
Over the issue there had been separate scuffles between senior and junior teachers on November 14 and 29 which made the situation more complicated.
Later, the university Vice Chancellor (VC) suspended two teachers, but teachers under Progressive Teachers' Forum stood against the move.
Educational activities at HSTU are totally collapsed as the agitating teachers are now demanding removal of the university proctor, registrar and student advisor for failing to resolve the crisis.
“We decided to boycott the admission test as the VC failed to resolve the crisis, Chairman of Chemistry Department Dr Boloram Roy said, adding that they will be present at the campus during the examination.
University Registrar Safiul Alam said they have taken all out preparation of holding the admission test as it is not possible to defer the examination again.
The teachers' boycott will not affect the test as some officials of the university have been kept standby and they would be deployed as invigilator if required, he said.
Meanwhile, HSTU authority in a press release yesterday informed that this year's admission test will begin on January 20 and will continue for the next three days.
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