Pro-VCs fall ill for confinement

Shikkhak, Shikkharthi, Karmakarta, Karmachari Oikya Forum stages a dawn-to-dusk token hunger strike at the administrative building of Jahangirnagar University yesterday demanding "implementation of the chancellor's directives and removal of the vice-chancellor". Photo: Star

The two pro-vice chancellors of Jahangirnagar University fell sick yesterday due to confinement to their offices for the last six days by some teachers who are demanding an immediate VC panel election to replace the incumbent, Prof Anwar Hossain.
Pro-VC (admin) Prof Afsar Ahmed and Pro-VC (education) Prof MA Matin are suffering from weakness for food poisoning and prolonged stay in confined places, according to the doctors who treated them. Of the two, the former was bedridden and administered saline.
Apart from confining the pro-VCs, the agitating teachers observed a token hunger strike at the administrative building yesterday, demanding execution of the chancellor's directives for organising the VC panel poll.
The confinement, however, was condemned by a group of teachers and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists who brought out a candlelight procession on the campus last evening. They also urged a stop to the demonstration of the agitating teachers.
Meanwhile, a section of students yesterday continued their protest against allowing MPhil and PhD researchers to contest and cast votes in the JU Central Students Union (Jucsu) election slated for January 2.