Islamic University closed indefinitely

The Islamic University (IU) authorities yesterday declared the university closed for an indefinite period and asked students to vacate the dormitories apparently due to fear of unrest on the campus.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the IU syndicate at the vice-chancellor's residence last night.

VC Prof Abdul Hakim Sarker said they made the decision for the “greater interest” of general students.

The administrative activities, however, will go on as usual.

The university authorities had information that students were not feeling secure due to the ongoing countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance, he added.

The authorities asked resident students to vacate the halls by 10:00am today, said Amanur Rahman, deputy registrar of the university.

According to sources, the IU authorities had information that activists of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami, were hatching a plot to destabilise the campus. They brought in a huge number of outsiders for this purpose.

Shibir cadres, who were involved in different subversive activities across the country, had taken shelter at the university dormitories, said a high-ranking official of Kushtia police, seeking anonymity.

Earlier yesterday, shibir men of the IU unit brought out a procession in front of the university main gate in support of the ongoing blockade. Later, police intervened, triggering a clash. The Shibir men then blocked the Kushtia-Khulna highway for an hour.

The university resumed its academic activities on January 8 after remaining closed for 38 days following the death of a student near the main entrance of the university and subsequent violence on the campus.