A day after police swooped on them, students started a fresh protest yesterday demanding the resignation of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor.

To press home the demand, they started a sit-in blocking the road in front the VC's residence from 4:00pm. Additional police were deployed in front of the gate of the residence.

Three days after their three-point, including resignation of a hall provost, were not met, the demonstrators confined VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed inside the MA Wazed Miah IICT Building on Sunday afternoon.

Police later charged truncheons on the demonstrators to free the VC, leading to a clash.

Police then shot rubber bullets and exploded sound grenades to bring the situation under control.

At least 30 students were injured.

After an emergency syndicate meeting, the Sust authorities decided to close the university for an indefinite period. All students were also asked to vacate their dormitories by noon yesterday .

Claiming that the VC permitted police on campus and ordered the attack to free himself, the students are now pressing a fresh three-point demand -- VC's resignation, his public apology and ensuring accountability of all involved in the attack on students.

They also declared the VC persona non grata on the campus.

On Sunday afternoon, the protesters locked the VC's office, the administrative building and all academic buildings, except the registrar building as the admission process was going on.

A student said describing the situation they would write to President Abdul Hamid, also the university chancellor, and ask him to fire VC Prof Farid Uddin.

Protesters put a lock on VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed’s office. PHOTO: SHEIKH NASIR

On Thursday night, students of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall started demonstrating, demanding the resignation of Provost Zafrin Ahmed Liza over her alleged misbehaviour.

Provost Zafrin resigned from the post on Sunday evening, citing personal reasons.

Meanwhile, an eight-member body, led by Prof Rashed Talukder of mathematics department, was formed to investigate Sunday's incidents.

WHO ORDERED POLICE?

The students claimed that the VC called in the police and had ordered the attack on the demonstrators. But the university authorities kept mum on the matter.

Contacted, Sust Proctor Alamgir Kabir refused to comment in this regard, while VC Prof Farid Uddin did not respond to phone calls of this correspondent.

However, Azbahar Ali Sheikh, deputy commissioner (north) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said police went to the university on request of the VC and the proctor, but acted on "Right of Private Defence".

He said, "After VC was confined to the IICT building, teachers tried to pacify the agitated students. Suddenly, some people among the students started throwing brick chunks, then blasted crude bombs and fired shots."

"As the situation went out of control, police charged truncheons, shot rubber bullets and 21 sound grenades. This was completely on the basis of Right of Private Defence to protect police and the teachers from the attack."

Police action on the Sust students sparked a nationwide protest.