Indefinite strike enforced at RU
Around 200 "controversially-appointed" fourth-class employees of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday went on an indefinite strike demanding regularisation of their jobs.
During the strike yesterday, the university authorities and police did not take any initiative to negotiate or have them call off the strike. Acting Vice-chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat, Proctor Enamul Haque and other university high-officials were not seen on campus during the strike yesterday.
Police also remained inactive when the employees chased away some freshmen aspirants who went to departments for their interviews.
A total of 40 departments of the university did not hold their interviews for freshmen and many departments could not publish their first year admission test result.
The agitating employees at around 7:00am locked the RU main gate and laid siege to the administrative building. They also went to science, arts and commerce faculty buildings, central library, deans' offices and RU transport office and locked them down in presence of a large number of policemen.
They gathered at different spots on campus and asked teachers, officers, employees and students to leave the campus. The university opened yesterday after 15 days of Eid holidays.
Most of the scheduled classes and exams could not be held. They also chased away university officers and employees when they tried to open their department offices.
Mahmudur Rahman, a teacher of business faculty, strongly criticised university authorities and the police for not taking any action against the unruly employees.
Around noon, the employees held a rally in front of the administrative building in presence of the police.
They chanted slogans against pro-Awami League teachers, the RU acting vice-chancellor and University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman for not confirming their jobs. They said they will continue the strike until their jobs are confirmed.
Jahangir Hossain, assistant commissioner of police Motiher zone, told newsman that the university authorities did not give them any direction on how to tackle the employees' agitation.
Denying the allegation that RU authorities were backing the agitating employees, Prof Mamnunul Keramat said he informed higher authorities about their agitation.
The agitating workers were employed during the BNP-led four-party alliances regime amid widespread allegations that they were employed disregarding rules of employment.
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