JU students hold concert demanding VC’s removal

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU), who have been continuing their anti-VC demonstration on the campus since August, held a concert in front of its Vice Chancellor Farzana Islam’s residence this evening demanding her immediate removal.

The demonstrators staged the concert in front of the VC’s residence around 7:00pm to press home their demand and the programme ended around 9:00pm, our JU correspondent reports from the spot.

After the concert, Prof Raihan Rhyne, the spokesperson of the platform “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption” said they will hold a sit-in-programme in front of the old administrative building of the university around 11:00am tomorrow.

They also will arrange a protesting painting there, which will be exhibited in the whole campus, he added.  

Earlier in the day, the agitating students gathered in front of the registrar building around 1:00pm and brought out a procession equipped with musical instruments that marched towards the VC’s residence defying ban on rallies and processions.

They chanted slogans against the VC that includes -- “Our campus, our right; save the campus, join the fight” and “do not, will not accept notice to vacate hall”.

A number of former students of the university also extended their solidarity to the protest and took part in the programme in a bid to ensure removal of the VC.

The JU authorities on Tuesday shut down the university for an indefinite period and banned processions and rallies on the campus until further notice.

The move came hours after Chhatra League men assaulted the demonstrators who had kept VC Prof Farzana Islam confined to her residence, demanding her resignation.

After the assault, which left 35, including nine teachers and four journalists, injured, Prof Farzana came out under BCL protection.

Following an emergency meeting the same day, the university authorities asked the students to vacate the dormitories by 5:30pm, but most of the hall residents stayed back.