Rajshahi Nursing College shut down, building locked due to demand for appointment of principal
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Students have announced ‘Complete Shutdown’ program in Rajshahi Nursing College for an indefinite period demanding the appointment of Principal. Today, Tuesday around 11:30 am, they gathered in the college premises and after holding the sit-in program, they locked the academic and administrative buildings. It has stopped classes, exams and clinical practice in hospitals. The program is being spearheaded by the student welfare organization of the college.
The students said that their program will continue until the principal is appointed. Earlier, they started the sit-in program from last Saturday and gave a 72-hour ultimatum. Although the ultimatum deadline expired on Monday, the students went on a strict program today as no recruitment related notification came from the concerned authorities.
According to college sources, the former principal was removed on February 1. The post has been vacant since the retirement of Matiara Khatun. Since there is no permanent or acting principal for almost two and a half months, the academic and administrative activities of the college have come to a standstill.
The students complained that due to the absence of the principal, important activities such as conducting regular classes, conducting exams, publishing results, formulating class routines are being disrupted. Besides, administrative decision-making has also become complicated. Official work is being delayed due to the pending approval of various files in the absence of the Principal. The students said that the stipend and salaries of the teachers and staff are also stopped.
The protesting students said that they are ordinary students of this college affiliated to Rajshahi Medical University. Since there is no principal for a long time, their educational life is in uncertainty. In this regard, earlier memorandums have been given to various departments including College Administration, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi Medical University, Civil Surgeon Office, District Administration, Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. But no visible initiative was taken.
President of Student Welfare Organization Rashidul Islam said, “We are facing many problems due to the absence of a principal. I gave an ultimatum to appoint the principal within 72 hours. But no progress has been made in this regard. So we had to go to a strict program.
A source, who did not wish to be named, said the recruitment process was delayed due to infighting among teachers and negligence on the part of the higher-ups. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that the former principal did not give anyone an acting charge when he retired. Later, some senior teachers expressed their interest in becoming principals, but no one has been appointed yet.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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