Asian University students continue agitation

Authorities of Asian University deploy police on the campus at Uttara in the city yesterday as the students continued agitation demanding quality education and dismissal of inefficient teachers. PHOTO: STAR

The demands include appointment of a permanent vice-chancellor and withdrawal of a notice that asked them to pay next semester's fees in advance, said the students.

The agitators said they began their movement to meet the demands three days ago after the authorities had issued the notice.

The vice-chancellor, however, did not give any heed even after the students started boycotting the classes, they alleged.

Hundreds of agitating students set fire on a tire and blocked the road in front of the university premise at sector-7 for whole day to press their demands.

The students also demanded to cut off several 'illogical' and 'excessive' fees like semester 'late fees' and 'retake' fees.

They also urged to provide qualified teachers and extend the library and computer laboratory facilities.

The students also demanded to decrease courses related to Islam in their semesters, which they alleged the authorities impose on them, and to increase their major-related courses.

The authorities, however, denied all the allegations.

Habibur Rahman, the deputy registrar, said "Some of the students did not or could not pay some of their due fees, and that's why we issued the notice."

"They made up those points to make an issue to avoid paying the dues," he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Asked what the steps the authorities took to end the strike, he said the authorities are supposed to sit with the students' representatives yesterday at 3:00pm.

The students, however, refused to sit with them alleging they harass the students, who sit with them.