Academic activities at 4 JU deptts disrupted

The authorities introduced urban and regional planning, biochemistry and molecular science, environmental science and international relations as full-fledged departments in 1998-99 academic session, but did not provide enough classrooms and teachers.

As a result, the students have been facing session jam of more than one and half years.

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The students of biochemistry and molecular science at a press conference yesterday gave a seven-day ultimatum to the department chairman for appointment of at least four regular teachers.

They also threatened to boycott all classes and examinations if their demand goes unheeded.

The department has now only three teachers and two classrooms while the number of students is 135 divided into six batches.

Even the classrooms do not have enough space for students of a single batch, said a teacher of the department, seeking anonymity.

Urban and regional planning, a department under social science faculty, now has six teachers and two classrooms against about 150 students in six batches of different academic sessions.

As most lab instruments are very old and unfit for use, the students have to rush to Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology often for their laboratory works, students complained.

The department also does not have any seminar library, they said.

Environmental science, a department under science faculty, fails to offer a single classroom for the students till now. Classes are held in a room at the central auditorium that was meant for the cultural organisations.

"Although the university allotted a room, the department could not be shifted there for shortage of necessary furniture," said Rashedul Karim, a teacher of the department.

International relations, a department under arts faculty, has been facing serious shortage of teachers.

The department now has only three teachers for about 130 students in five batches.

Moreover, an internal feud among the teachers has created a deadlock at the department.

While contacted over telephone, Prof Tareq Shamsur Rahman, chairman of international relations, and Prof Shafiullah, chairman of environmental science, declined to comment on the issue.

Prof Shajed Afsar Karim, chairman of urban and regional planning, was not available for comments.