Rajshahi University Printmaking Students Boycott Classes Demanding Permanent Expulsion of Disciplined Teacher
Photo Collected
Students of the Printmaking discipline at Rajshahi University launched a protest on Sunday, boycotting classes and examinations to demand the permanent expulsion of faculty member Sujan Sen. The protesters locked their classrooms at the Faculty of Fine Arts building around 11:30 a.m. to press their demands.
The agitation follows a series of administrative actions against Sen, who was previously accused by students of academic misconduct, financial irregularities, and favoritism. On August 25, 2024, students declared Sen persona non grata within the department, subsequently filing formal complaints with the university’s vice-chancellor, student advisor, and department chair on September 8.
Following these allegations, the department suspended Sen from academic activities on September 9 pending an investigation. A university-formed committee later concluded that Sen’s behavior constituted a moral lapse. A second investigative committee, led by former Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Mainuddin, was subsequently formed to recommend legal action.
Based on the final report, the university syndicate reached a decision during its 548th meeting to demote Sen from associate professor to assistant professor and suspend him from all academic and administrative duties for five years. Under the terms of the penalty, Sen will not be eligible for salary increments during this period.
Students have rejected the syndicate’s decision, labeling the disciplinary action as superficial and performative. Protesting student Asia Khatun argued that the current penalty allows the instructor to continue receiving salary and benefits despite his suspension. She noted that university regulations mandate termination for moral misconduct, a recommendation that was reportedly omitted from the final syndicate decision.
The students have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the administration, demanding both the permanent expulsion of Sen and the public disclosure of the investigative committee’s findings. Another student, Md. Sarwar Jahan, reiterated that the demonstrators remain skeptical of the leniency shown toward the accused instructor.
In response to the protests, University Proctor Professor Mahabubur Rahman stated that the disciplinary measures were established by the syndicate. He criticized the decision to boycott classes as inappropriate, urging students to pursue their grievances through dialogue rather than by disrupting academic operations. The administration intends to engage in discussions with both faculty and students to resolve the standoff.
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