Students now join hands with teachers

The ongoing movement of the teachers demanding removal of the vice chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet took a new turn as a group of students yesterday expressed solidarity with them.

As the teachers observed a three-hour token hunger strike, the students staged a sit-in on the campus, seeking removal of VC Prof Aminul Haque Bhuiyan for his alleged misbehaviour with some teachers and irregularities.

Under the banner of "General students of Sust", around 300 students of different departments also marched across the campus and chanted, "We have one demand, we want VC's removal".

Holding placards and festoons, they gathered at the administrative building-2, which housed the VC's office, and staged the sit-in.

They threatened to go for tougher movement on Sunday if the VC does not step down by tomorrow.

Observe a three-hour token hunger strike in front of the VC's office to press home the same demand. Photo: Banglar Chokh

Meanwhile, the teachers under the banner of "Mahan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Shikkhak Parishad" started the hunger strike before the VC's office around 9:00am.

They announced to observe a daylong work stoppage on Sunday if the VC is not removed by that time.

"We have only one demand, which is the removal of the VC, and we will not leave the field until our demand is met," said Prof Syed Shamsul Alam.

Yesterday's agitation was last of the three-day programme the teachers started a day after BCL activists allegedly swooped on teachers during the latter's scheduled demonstration on Sunday to stop the VC from entering his office.

Several teachers, including Prof Yasmeen Haque, wife of Prof Zafar Iqbal, were assaulted at the time.

Meanwhile, a forum of administrative heads of the university observed a work stoppage from 9:00am to 11:00am protesting the attack, ANM Jainal Abedin, convener of the forum, said. They demanded proper investigation into the Sunday's incident and punishment for the responsible persons.