SUST students boycott classes, lock office

General students of Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) yesterday boycotted their classes and put the Registrar's Building under lock and key for half an hour protesting hike in tuition fees.
They also took out a procession on the campus and then held a rally in front of the Central Library demanding immediate withdrawal of 25 percent enhanced tuition fees.
In the wake of student agitation, the university authorities has convened an emergency meeting of the academic council at 3:45 pm today to discuss the issue, official sources said.
No buses could leave or enter the campus for an hour from 12:00 noon. The students will again stage a demonstration on the campus today and also stop plying of the university buses.
On March 18, the general students urged the university authorities to withdraw the enhanced tuition fees by March 29. Otherwise, they threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme to realise their demand.
Student organisations also extended their support to the movement of the general students.
Meanwhile, the university unit of Samajtrantik Chhatra Front in a press release yesterday said the University Grants Commission will not be allowed to implement the 20-year strategy paper which has been prescribed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The strategy paper, if implemented, will go against the interest of the students of the university, it said.
The student body has threatened to go for tougher movement in association with the general students against any decision that will go against the interest of the students.