BCL men to get top priority for univ jobs

Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan has "assured" Chhatra League men that they would get the "highest priorities" in getting jobs at the university.

Prof Sobhan, while talking to a group of BCL leaders who kept him confined to his residence on the university campus demanding jobs at the university, also said BCL men would "not miss" jobs at the university.

The Daily Star obtained an audio clip of the conversation in which he was assuring the protesting BCL men in the early hours of January 12.

The BCL men confined RU VC, two pro-vice-chancellors and the proctor to the VC's residence on January 11.

They started demonstrations following spreading of news that one administrative official was appointed to the university, defying the government's order that postponed all kinds of appointments to RU until further notice.

On December 10, the government issued the order, after a University Grants Commission probe found that the vice-chancellor and other RU officials relaxed the recruitment rules to appoint the VC's daughter and son-in-law as teachers.

Confined VC Prof Sobhan came to talk to the protesting BCL leaders around 2:00am on January 12.

"You have done enough [protest]. I think people who need to understand got your message," Prof Sobhan said.

"I cannot make everything public, there is a problem if I say everything. But InshAllah I will give the highest priorities on your matter [jobs]. Wait and see," Prof Sobhan was saying during the conversation.

Pointing to BCL activists' opinions that the government cannot halt appointment as RU is autonomous in line with the Rajshahi University-1973 Act, Prof Sobhan said, "We all expect jobs. This is your main demand. You have brought the issue of university act tactfully."

At one point, some of the BCL men shouted asking how long they will have to wait for jobs.

In reply, Prof Sobhan said he had talked to the official concerned at the Prime Minister's Office about the withdrawal of the postponement.

"Wait for two or four days. You can wage a movement after that," he said, adding that "you will not miss jobs".

"This is not right. I have not assured anyone of giving jobs," Prof Sobhan said when this newspaper contacted with him over phone.

"I have asked them to leave the place and stop the movement and it is not possible to give appointment due to the government's postponement. We are working on to find out how this postponement can be withdrawn," he said.

When this correspondent said The Daily Star has an audio clip of his conversation, Prof Sobhan said, "They [BCL activists] were waging a movement. We say many things so that they call off their movement."

About the assurance of jobs, the RU VC said all the protesters were jobseekers. Everybody gives hope to jobseekers. There were some people who were not BCL men, he said.

Elias Hossain, a former BCL leader and a demonstrator, said, "We did not have any such conversations with the VC."

Meanwhile, Dablu Sarkar, general secretary of Rajshahi city Awami League, held a meeting with Prof Sobhan on January 13.

After the meeting, Dablu said the dedicated BCL activists were demanding jobs after completing their studies.

"Besides the VC, we all, Rajshahi mayor and MPs, will work so that the postponement on recruitment is withdrawn ... Once it is done, the door to jobs will be opened for the demonstrators," he added.