UGC asked to form probe body
The education ministry yesterday sent a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC), asking to form a committee to investigate the situation at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj.
“We’ve already sent a letter to the UGC to form a fact-finding committee. The ministry will assist them in the investigation,” Mohibul Hasan Nowfel, deputy minister for education, told The Daily Star yesterday.
It would take time to start the investigation as the university is closed now, he said.
Meanwhile, power connections to the dormitories were restored yesterday as the students continued their protest for the sixth consecutive day demanding removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nuruddin Ahmed for his alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities.
Nevertheless, students staying on the campus faced trouble as the authorities did not restore water supply and dining facilities at the dorms.
In the wake of ongoing students’ movement, the authorities on Saturday declared a 10-day vacation ahead of Durga Puja and asked the students to vacate dormitories by 10:00am.
As the students refused to give in, the authorities severed power and water connections to the dorms after 10:00am.
Later in the day, a group of “hired goons” attacked students who were on their way to campus to join the protest programme, leaving 20 students including three journalists injured.
Protesting the attacks, assistant proctor of the university Assistant Proctor Humayun Kabir resigned from his post.
WHY ARE THE STUDENTS PROTESTING?
Several thousand students have been demonstrating for the VC’s removal, bringing allegations against him of sexual harassment, nepotism in recruiting teachers and other employees, and corruption in development projects, including the construction of the Shaheed Minar and Bangabandhu’s mural on the campus.
The demonstrators said the university authorities suspended students and served show-cause notices to those teachers whose speeches or statements go against them.
Fatema Tuz Zinia, a second-year student of law department and a campus reporter of The Daily Sun, was a victim of suspension for a Facebook post.
Amid countrywide protests, university authorities withdrew the suspension order on September 18.
Comments