PUST employees lock administrative bldg

Officers and employees of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) yesterday locked the administrative building of the university, demanding removal of a teacher from three administrative posts for 'misbehaving' with the officers.

The teacher under question, Dr Md Habibullah, is chairman of history department. He is also serving as director of the students' advisory committee.

They also went on an indefinite work abstention to press their six other demands during an agitation programme held on the campus.

The demands include permanent recruitment of the staff, reforming wage scale for workers and removal of discrimination of transport facility and upgradation of post for officers, said Johurul Islam Prince, a section officer of the university, and key organiser of the movement.

On May 18, Habibullah misbehaved with the officers in a staff bus of the university, officers and employees alleged.

"Dr Habibullah has been holding three administrative posts for the last few years by 'managing' the university authorities. Using his power and position, the teacher often misbehaves with the officers and employees of the university," they said.

Contacted, Dr Habibullah said he is being victimised for protesting irregularities. "A few workers and employees do not perform their duties properly. They are angry at me because I made objections against it," he said.

Bijon Kumar Brommah, registrar of the university, said they tried to resolve the problem through a meeting with the agitating workers and employees at noon but it failed finally.

The administrative activities remained stopped due to the agitation of the workers and employees, he said.