Students lock admin bldg to realise 4-point demand

Students of Maolana Bhashani Science and Technology University at Santosh in Tangail demonstrate in front of the administrative building before locking it to press for their 4-point demand yesterday.Photo: STAR

Students of Maolana Bhasani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) at Santosh in the district agitated on the campus yesterday to realise their four-point demand including reduction of credit fee.
The three other demands are cut in arrears charges, smooth electricity supply and reduction of hostel charges for the female students.
Several hundred students of different departments demonstrated on the campus and locked the administrative building at around 12:00pm keeping over 100 teachers, officials and employees confined to their rooms in the building, said Prof Mohammad Moniruzaman, pro-vice chancellor of the university.
Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof M Nurul Islam was not present at the university during the agitation, he added.
The students also brought out an angry procession on the campus and damaged windowpanes of five rooms of the academic building, campus sources said.
Several agitating students claimed that the university authorities, in face of the students' agitation last year, had assured of reducing credit fee from Tk 200 to Tk 100. But recently the authorities served a notice for paying Tk 150 credit fee, they said.
"We are agitating to realise our four demands including reduction of credit fee from Tk 200 to Tk 50," said a student.
The agitating students unlocked the administration building after three and a half hours when at around 3:30pm a teachers' team led by proctor Omar Faruque held talks with them.
The teachers assured the students that the credit fee will be brought down to Tk 100 from Tk 200 and the arrear charges will be reduced from Tk 500 to Tk 300 while the rest two demands will be met 'as soon as possible', campus sources said.
Earlier on February 1, the students held an agitation programme on the campus to realise the same demands. They also gave a memorandum to the VC on the day placing the demands.