Agitators besiege Ruet VC's house

A section of teachers, students and staff of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) kept confined the university's vice chancellor and his family members to their residence for around one and a half hours yesterday.
The demonstrators alleged that VC Prof Sirajul Karim Chowdhury was involved in different types of irregularities in academic and administrative sectors.
Under the banner of "Progatisheel Chhatra-Shikkhak-Karmakarta-Karmachari Oikkya Parishad", they have been demonstrating on the campus since November 16 demanding removal of the VC.
No classes were held and academic activities came to a halt as the staff, teachers and students have been observing an indefinite strike since Monday, Ruet sources said.
Agitating students padlocked the VC's residence around 9:00am, while the others were demonstrating on the campus, witnesses said.
Later, leaders of the parishad went to the spot and freed the VC and his family members by opening the lock around around 10:30am.
The agitators also brought out a procession on the campus and staged a sit-in before the academic building from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
They also burnt the effigy of Prof Sirajul Karim on the campus around 1:00pm.
Later, addressing a rally, the parishad Convener Dr Kamruzzaman Sarkar claimed that the VC had upgraded the result of a final year student to CGPA 3.00 from 2.97.
Ruet unit Bangabandhu Parishad President Dr Ashraful Alam alleged that Prof Sirajul Karim has been maintaining a secret contact with Jamaat-Shibir men.
Ruet unit BCL convener and also member secretary of the parishad, Harun-or-Rashid, said the VC did not take any step to complete construction of a Shaheed Minar on the campus during his tenure.
Meanwhile, some Ruet teachers and students alleged that the agitators paralysed the campus as some teachers did not get their desired promotions; and some students and staff did not get development work orders from the VC.
The agitators forced many teachers and students to join their movements, they said.
Ruet unit BCL convener and member secretary of the parishad, Harun-or-Rashid, said they started the movement against the VC's corruption.
Contacted, Prof Sirajul Karim Chowdhury denied the allegations and said some people were conspiring against him.