Students lay siege to VC office for master's courses

The students of two departments of life science faculty at Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology (MBUST) at Santosh laid siege to the vice chancellor's office yesterday demanding steps to start master's courses for the session 2007-08.
The angry students of Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESRM) and Criminology and Police Science (CPS) departments also boycotted classes, locked the gates of the administrative and academic buildings and disconnected the electric and telephone lines of the buildings.
The scheduled meeting of the academic council was postponed due to the chaotic situation on the campus.
Vice Chancellor Dr Prof Mominul Haque tried to manage the agitating students, saying that he would take necessary steps in a week to fulfil their demand but they demanded a written promise by the authorities.
But the authorities refused to meet their demand.
Earlier, the students also boycotted classes and staged a sit-in programme on the Shaheed Minar premises on the campus for the same demand on Saturday.
The first batch (4th year/2nd semester) students of the departments told The Daily Star that according to the academic calendar, their semester final examination would be held on January 17, 2009.
Although the BSC (Hons) course of the first batch students are on the ending stage, no steps have been taken yet to start the master's programme, they said, added, “We gave a reminder to the authorities of the matter but they did not pay heed to the woes of 500 students of the departments.”
When contacted, the VC told this correspondent that they are unanimous with the demand of the students and the matter was an important agenda of the just postponed academy council meeting.
“The authorities will take steps to begin the master's course for the students of the two departments as soon as possible,” he added.