Shibir joined by ousiders enforces strike at RU

On the other hand, general students of the department staged a separate demonstration on the campus protesting the strike.

Campus sources said Shibir activists from outside joined those at RU to enforce the strike for removal of Zulfiqar Ahmed.

They closed all the roads to the campus and forcibly stopped university buses from plying. They also locked the administrative building for several hours from 8.30 am.

A large number of teachers, officers, staff and students could not come to the campus as the university buses did not ply.

Officials and other staff could not enter the administrative building as the Shibir activists locked the main gate.

Classes and examinations were not held out of fear of attack by Shibir activists, the sources said.

They also compelled shop owners on the campus to down their shutters. The cadres also staged a showdown on the campus wielding with hockey and bamboo sticks.

At a rally held in front of the Central Library, Shibir leaders claimed that Julfiqar Ahmed was a 'controversial' person in the department because of his immoral activities.

He was ousted form IBS (Institute of Business Studies) dormitory in 2004 for anti-social activities, they claimed.

They threatened to call an indefinite students' strike if the 'controversial' teacher is not removed from the department.

Police were on the campus but they did not take any action when Shibir blocked all roads to the campus and locked the administrative building, campus sources said Meanwhile, the general students of Law and Justice Department at a press briefing called the strike illegal, saying they were not involved with Shibir in calling the strike. Those who enforced the strike are not students of the department, they said.

The Shibir claim is baseless and politically motivated, they said.

The RU authorities appointed Zulfiqar Ahmed on June 21 this year after examining his academic career and other credentials. If he was a 'controversial' person, he would not have been appointed, they claimed.

Many RU teachers also expressed dissatisfaction over the university authorities' role as regards the Shibir-enforced strike.

They also criticised the Vice-chancellor for his silent role during the strike. Proctor Prof Enamul Haque, when contacted, said, "We can not do any thing against the unruly students".