PSTU students skip exams for fear of BCL reprisal
A large number of examinees did not go to examination halls at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) yesterday allegedly as the expelled activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) threatened them with dire consequences.
Campus sources and students, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that local unit of BCL asked the students to keep away from exams and classes in a bid to put pressure on PSTU administration to withdraw the expulsion orders.
PSTU expelled 21 BCL boys on May 11 for different terms on charge of creating anarchy on campus in February this year.
Following the expulsion, the upazila unit BCL in Dumki, where the varsity is located, gave a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw the order.
The PSTU authorities also imposed an indefinite ban on all kinds of rallies, processions and gatherings on the campus.
Only 27 students out of 165 supposed to sit for semester final examinations under different departments of agriculture faculty and disaster management department turned out for examinations yesterday.
Only a single class of sixth semester was held yesterday. No other classes took place for absence of students.
Contacted, PSTU vice chancellor Prof Syed Shakhawat Hussain said, "We requested all students to disregard the acts of the expelled students. We are determined to hold classes and examinations".
Nasir Saleh Chowdhury, deputy registrar of the PSTU said "I have issued an emergency notice on Tuesday on behalf of VC requesting the students to attend their classes and take part in their examinations. We also requested all to maintain peaceful atmosphere on the campus".
"We'll be forced to take action if anybody is found guilty."
Contacted, BCL president of Dumki unit Jasimuddin Badal denied threatening the students and said, "General students of the university are supporting the expelled students and that's why they're not taking part in exams."
Additional police have been deployed on the campus to avert any unwanted incidents.
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