SUST crisis deepens as teachers go on strike

The work abstention pogramme was announced after a meeting of the teachers yesterday afternoon.

The teachers also wore black badges protesting some Shibir activists' alleged misbehaviour with some teachers.

On the other hand, four deans sent a letter to SUST Chancellor President Iazuddin Ahmed demanding immediate withdrawal of VC Prof Musleh Uddin Ahmed.

The letter was signed by the four deans-- Prof Zafar Iqbal, Prof Habibul Ahsan, Prof Reza E Karim Khondaker and Prof Zainal Abedin, according to official sources.

The teachers went to the Registrar in a group and alleged that Shibir men misbehaved with some teaches.

The VC, who was outside the campus, was informed of the teachers' allegations, Registrar Jamil Ahmed Chowdhury told The Daily Star later.

The Shibir activists staged a showdown on the campus yesterday demanding resumption of classes. At one stage, they went to offices of some senior teachers and misbehaved with them, campus sources said.

Later, they took out a procession on the campus chanting slogans against Prof Jafar Iqbal, Prof Zainal Abedin, Prof Reza E Karim Khondaker

and former president of SUST Teachers Association Dr. Sushanta Kumar Das.

Protesting the Shibir men's alleged unruly behaviour, left leaning teaches aligned with Awami League and other opposition parties held the meeting with Dr Akhtarul Islam in the chair.

The teachers are opposing recruitment of some teachers in four departments, allegedly on political consideration.

Interview for the recruitment is scheduled for August 27.

Earlier, on July 23, the SUST administration was compelled to suspend the interview for teaches in the face of opposition by left leaning teachers, who staged a sit-in in front of the administrative building.

On Tuesday, the left leaning teachers in a statement demanded withdrawal of the VC by August 26 and threatened of tougher agitation for non-compliance.

The statement said the 'VC was conspiring to start a fresh process to recruit teachers when a stalemate persists at SUST'.

"We will resist such a move at any cost in the interest of students and maintaining a congenial academic atmosphere on the campus", the statement said.