IU students to intensify agitation as deadline goes unheeded

The programmes begin today as their demand for resumption of classes went unheeded. The students yesterday held day-long campaign in favour of their agitation programme. They held several rallies and processions on the campus.

Earlier, handing over a memorandum to the university registrar on Sunday they threatened to lock all the departments and offices including stoppage of transport vehicles if the stalemate was not resolved by Monday.

They also brought out a procession on the campus. Processionists chanted slogans demanding immediate resumption of classes. They also urged the chancellor to take all the examinations without further delay. They sought intervention of Prime Minister Khelada Zia to resolve the stand-off and demanded appointment of a new vice-chancellor in the interest of 9,000 students.

Different student organisations extended support to their demand, campus sources said.

Classes and examinations were suspended following non-cooperation of Islamic University Teachers' Association (IUTA) with the university authorities since July 19.

However, all the offices, halls and library remained open.

Teachers having political affiliations with different political ideologies were demanding appointment of a new vice-chancellor from among themselves after Prof Rafiqul Islam, the 8th vice chancellor resigned in face of agitation by the Jatyiatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on June 22. He 'annoyed' the JCD men by refusing to fulfill their demand for recruitment of at least 200 JCD men in the university.

Treasurer Prof Anwarul Karim was asked to continue the financial and administrative duties of vice-chancellor on July 10.

But the crisis was not resolved, rather, it took a new turn after appointment of Prof Karim as the acting VC on July 18.

IUTA started non-cooperation with him as their demand for appointment of the new VC from among the teachers went unheeded.

Meanwhile, a High Court (HC) division bench issued a rule on the university authorities on July 20 asking to explain within two weeks as to why recruitment of 89 employees against 58 posts would not be declared illegal. The HC rule followed a writ challenging legality of the appointments by violating the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.

The appointments were made without approval of the UGC after a Syndicate decision adopted on May 18, sources said.

However, a decision to appoint a new VC is under consideration of the prime minister, said a source.

On contact, IUTA president Prof Hyez Mohammad Serajul Haque hoped a solution to the crisis within two or three days.