Rokeya University closes indefinitely

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The Begum Rokeya University authorities suspended academic activities for an indefinite period yesterday after at least 36 people, including six teachers and officials, were injured in a series of tripartite clashes on the Rangpur campus.
The injured were rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital while police detained a third year management student, Rajib Hossain, for allegedly having two cocktails in his possession.
The university syndicate formed a four-member body to investigate the incident and submit a report in seven days, sources said.
The clashes ensued when several hundred teachers, students and staff, under the “Durniti Birodhi Mancha” banner, went to lay siege to the residence of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Muhammad Abdul Jalil Miah around 9:30am.
They were demanding his resignation for his alleged involvement in corruption in appointing teachers, officials and employees and withdrawal of Thursday's suspension of four teachers and two officials who are the mancha's members.
Witnesses said some 50 VC-backed students first attacked the protesters, leading to the clashes.
Police, to bring the situation under control, lobbed some 50 teargas shells, fired 10 rubber bullets and charged baton on the warring factions.
During the clashes, lasting till 1:30pm, the mancha's protesters demolished some parts of the residence's boundary wall.
Assistant Prof Abu Sayeed Md Wadudur Rahman of Bangla, the mancha's member secretary, claimed that they were attacked both by police and the VC-backed students without any provocation and upon the VC's directive.
The injured include Assistant Prof Ashraful Alam; Prof Ilias Pramanik; Assistant Prof Shafique Ashraf; Lecturer Shanwar Shiraj; Assistant Registrar Mohammad Jahidur Rahman; and Assistant Proctor Shamim Al Matin.