Vet students lock administrative, academic bldgs, block rail, road

Veterinary students in Mymensingh and Dinajpur yesterday protested the opening of animal husbandry department at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU).
Students of Hajee Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) locked administrative and academic buildings and blocked highway while Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) students staged rail barricade.
The students in Dinajpur blocked Dhaka-Dinajpur highway for four hours. Besides, at around 9:30am they locked their administrative and academic buildings disrupting the studies of other students, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.
Many teachers, students and staff remained stranded in the buildings till filing of this report in the afternoon.
The agitating students shouted slogans against the Patuakhali Science and Technology University authorities for opening the animal husbandry department allegedly ignoring the code of University Grants Commission (UGC).
They urged the UGC to take steps against the PSTU authorities for it.
Dr Mizanur Rahman, vice chancellor (acting) of HSTU told this correspondent that vice chancellors of seven universities of the country will meet in the capital today to discuss the issue.
At a press conference at Dinajpur Press Club the students alleged that the new faculty introduced at PSTU would create a disparity among the students and also affect their future in the job markets.
In Mymensingh, the students of the veterinary science faculty at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) yesterday blocked railroad for two hours much to the sufferings of Dhaka bound Balaka Express train passengers, reports our BAU correspondent.
Earlier they brought out a protest procession from the faculty building and gathered in front of the administration building at around 3:30pm.
The agitated students said that they had peacefully held protest rally, human chain and sit-in programme protesting lunching of BSc in animal husbandry (hons) course at PSTU, but the authorities concerned did not pay heed to their demands.
Threatening to go for tougher agitation they also demanded removal of PSTU vice chancellor.