Procession, rally banned at PUST

The authorities of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST), at a meeting of the Board of Regents, banned meetings, processions and rallies on the university campus to keep the law and order situation under control.

Earlier on November 6, the authorities closed the university for an indefinite period against the backdrop of the students' longstanding movement.

Assistant Director of public relations department of the university Faruk Hossain Chowdhury issued a press release yesterday, announcing the decision of the authorities.

According to the decision taken by the Regent Board at a meeting on November 5, meetings, precessions and rallies on the campus have been banned temporarily to keep law and order situation under control, the press release said.

PUST students started agitation from early July this year with a seven-point demand, including removal of semester drop system and extra fee from year drop students, and addition of some academic facilities.

The situation turned violent on November 5 when agitating students assaulted the vice-chancellor and teachers and besieged the administrative building.

Afterwards, PUST authorities suspended 10 agitating students and closed the university for an indefinite period.

Criticising the authorities' sudden decision, secretary of PUST unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League Faridul Islam Babu said, “It is not fair to stop meetings and processions in the university. Students are demonstrating for their rights.”