Agitation at Music, Drama Dept onFollow-up
RU VC seeks two days to resolve problems
Teachers and students of music and drama department of Rajshahi University stage a sit-in in front of the vice chancellor's residence yesterday demanding removal of the departmental chairman. Photo: STAR
Rajshahi University (RU) vice chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan yesterday sought two days to resolve the music and drama department problem. Prof Sobhan asked for the time as the teachers and students of the department were agitating for the last four days demanding removal of the departmental head. Sources said over 100 students and 15 teachers out of total 19 staged a day-long sit-in in front of the vice chancellor's residence from 8:00am yesterday demanding removal of department chairman Prof Moloy Bhoumick. They also staged a street drama and sang songs as part of their agitation and to press home their demand. At around 2:30pm, the vice chancellor along with the proctorial body came to gate of his residence and met with the teachers and students of the department. During the meeting Prof Sobhan said that he will need at least two days to resolve the problem of the department . He also urged the teachers and students to withdraw their programmes. But the protesters vowed to continue their programmes including sit-in and work abstention until the demand was met. They also threatened to go for hunger strike from today if the university authorities failed to meet the demand within the deadline. The teachers of the department were observing work abstention from last Thursday demanding removal of Prof Bhoumick alleging that he took several arbitrary decisions ignoring the academic and planning committee since taking office on November 10, 2009. The students of the department also joined the teachers from Saturday. Other allegations against Prof Bhoumick include fixing the Masters final examination date of the 2009 batch brushing aside the concern of other members of the examination committee and issuing of threats and misbehaviour with colleagues. Prof Moloy Bhoumick on Sunday demanded investigation into the charges brought against him by the teachers of the department. At a press conference, Prof Bhoumick claimed himself innocent and said he neither took any arbitrary decision nor defied the university acts. Meanwhile, no classes and examinations were held at the department yesterday. The departmental chairman's office remained locked as the teachers put the office under lock and key on Thursday.
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