Removal of Islamic University VC demanded

Bangabandhu Parishad, an organisation of Awami backed teachers-officers, Shapla Forum, a platform of progressive teachers of the university, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) IU unit and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), student organisation of ruling coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami, placed their demand holding press conference and bringing processions.

Bangabandhu Parishad and Shapla Forum at a press conference held at Islamic University Teachers Officers Club (IUTOC) at custom's moar area in Kushtia town blamed the vice-chancellor for his failure to run the university.

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They demanded immediate removal the VC, terming him "corrupt and unfit to run the institution."

In a written statement, Dr Rashid Askari, professor and chairman at the department of English, said after coming to power the VC appointed a large number of teachers, officers and staff belonging to particular quarters by violating University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.

The VC also grabbed a huge amount of money through this illegal recruitment.

They also showed a UGC letter instructing the VC not to recruit any teachers-officers or staff without approval of the UGC. But the VC violating the instruction appointed about 200 staff in the university.

Professor M Alauddin, president of Bangabandhu Parishad, Professor Abul Ahsan Choudhury, Prof ANM Rezaul Karim, Prof Moniruzzaman, Prof Sawkat Jahangir, Prof Ainul Islam, Prof Sahinoor Rahman, Shapla Forum President Saiful Islam and General Secretary Jahangir Alam addressed the conference.

The university is still closed. The VC did not come back to campus since he left on Thursday.

The situation of the university turned worse on Thursday when the VC appointed 88 people including 6 officials and 82 third and forth class employees, which was complete violation the UGC guideline.

Moreover, all of the appointees are men of JCD and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), student wings of ruling BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Of them some having records of being involved in crimes including murder, sources in the university said over telephone yesterday.

But this recruitment sparked anger among the ruling alliances too. Jatyiatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) men were angry as the syndicate failed to fulfil their demand of at least 200 appointments. They went on rampage and launched destructive activities.

In their five days of agitation, they vandalised 23 buses, 2 private cars of the university, offices and residences of teachers-officers and members of the syndicate.

Over the situation, the authorities declared the university close on Monday.

The BCL and ICS brought out separate processions on the campus demanding immediate resignation of the VC Prof. Rafiqul Islam.