Students warned of strict agitation if appointment of VC in Duet is not cancelled
Photo Collected
The protesting students of Duet have announced that they will not back down from their demands even though the democratic demands have been turned into a conflict. They demand that the notification of appointment of external VC must be cancelled. Besides, VC should be appointed from among the teachers working in Duet. They also warned that if the demands are not met, they will start a tough movement.
The agitating students held a press conference at 12:30 noon on Monday at Shahid Minar square of the campus regarding the ongoing anti-VC movement in Duet. The fourth year student of civil engineering department read the written speech there. Amanullah. He said that they will continue the agitation until the appointment of VC is cancelled.
বিজ্ঞাপন
In the press conference, the students presented three demands. The demands are cancellation of appointment of Professor Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University as VC of Duet, appointment of Duet’s own teacher as VC and prosecution of all those involved in Sunday’s clash.
Aman Ullah and Hasanur Rahman, students of the fourth year of civil engineering department, said, “A teacher already working in Duet should be appointed as VC through proper criteria. We have limited our claim to be clear and logical. Not only that, so that no one misunderstands our demand or no one finds any political affiliation or interest, we made it more clear—be he of any educational background, be a student of any university, personally follow any political or non-political ideology, we will not comment on that. We will not suggest anyone’s name even if students specify. We will accept whomever the government appoints after discussion and consideration with our teaching community.
বিজ্ঞাপন
It was also said in the press conference that all the students have united in this demand. All, irrespective of party affiliation, are urged to come together in favor of this logical demand of Duet and present it to the higher authorities. The students said that for a week they have been holding a peaceful sit-in program in the campus and for a short time in front of the main gate of the campus. In continuation of this, the sit-in program was going on inside the main gate of the campus from the morning of May 17. In the morning, Duet Chhatra Dal and outside hired Tokais broke the gate of Duet and tried to enter inside. At that time, when the students inside tried to resist it, the Chhatra Dal and their allies outside Tokaira ambushed them by throwing bricks and using native weapons. 18 students were injured in this clash. 12 of them were seriously injured.
In their written statement, they further said, ‘Honorable Prime Minister, as citizens of your state and as students of Duet, our humble demand—consider this logical demand of ours.’
Meanwhile, the University Teachers’ Association in a statement expressed deep sorrow, concern and anxiety over the unexpected and violent incident. The teachers’ association said that the university is a sacred place for learning and democratic practice. Presenting logical demands of students and peaceful movement is constitutional. At the same time, they strongly condemned attacks on students, intimidation and interference by outsiders.
Duet teachers’ association held a press conference in the conference room of the university’s vice-chancellor’s office. President of the association Professor Khosru Mia expressed solidarity with the demands of the ongoing movement and said that there is a decision through the resolution to appoint an internal teacher in the appointment of VC of the university. If the decision is taken accordingly, the ongoing movement can be mitigated. However, he also commented that it is not possible to disobey the one whom the government has appointed as the new VC. At the same time, the leaders of the teachers’ association demanded justice for those involved in the ongoing violence.
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