Shut evening courses, students demand

Students of different departments under social science faculty of Rajshahi University lay siege to the administrative building yesterday demanding cancellation of the decision to launch evening master's courses under the faculty.Photo: STAR

Students of different departments under Social Science Faculty at Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday laid a siege to the administrative building demanding cancellation of evening master's courses under the faculty.
Over 500 students of eight departments under the faculty blocked the building's main gate for an hour from 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Earlier, the students formed a human chain in front of the university central library followed by a protest procession that paraded the campus.
At a rally in front of the administrative building, the students said the evening masters courses will add to session jam worsening the situation alarmingly. They also said every batch of eight departments under the faculty are facing at least two-year session jam right now as a large number of teachers are allegedly engaged with private universities and other jobs defying the university rules.
Alleging indifference to their right to proper education, they called upon the university authorities to take immediate steps to shut the evening courses.
The students also threatened to go for indefinite strike including class boycott programme if their demands were not met within 24 hours.
Prof Mizan Uddin, dean of Social Science Faculty said that he will look into the matter and take steps after talks with the university authorities.
RU Vice Chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan was not available for his comment.
The students have been staging protest for the last 10 days as the university authorities decided to launch evening masters courses at eight departments under Social Science Faculty.
The notable departments are Economics, Social Work, Public Administration, Library Science and Mass Communication and Journalism.