Teachers' Agitation
JU academic activities in stalemate
The quagmire over the academic activities at Jahangirnagar University (JU) has worsened since the murder of Zubair Ahmed who succumbed to his injuries in an attack on the campus by Bangladesh Chhatra League men on January 8.
The teachers who were agitating since then initiated a 10-day protest programme from March 18 with a fresh set of demands. It includes the vice chancellor's (VC) resignation and formation of a judicial probe committee to investigate the murder.
Initially, the teachers, under the banner of “Shikkhak Samaj”, mostly of pro-BNP and left-leaning and some of pro-Awami League mindset, demanded trial of Zubair's attackers and the proctorial body's removal.
Now they are blaming the VC for his alleged biasness in appointing teachers and not holding elections for the posts of VC, deans and senate and syndicate members.
Mentionable, JU expelled seven students for life and six others for two years after a probe committee found their involvement in the murder. It also replaced almost all members of the proctorial body.
But the stalemate failed to improve as the teachers continue to boycott classes while the university administration remains rigid on not fulfilling the demands.
Admitting that the academic activities were seriously being hampered, spokesperson of Shikkhak Samaj, Prof Nasim Akhter Hossain, said they have no other option.
“We are continuing our agitation as the administration is reluctant to meet our rational demands. We tried to reach a consensus but the vice chancellor broke his promises several times,” she said.
On the contrary, VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir termed the demands irrational and harmful for JU.
“I always respect and welcome any democratic movement and demand from the respected teachers but they can not hamper the university's normal activities,” he said.
He said declaration on the time schedule of the elections would come in proper time. However, he said teachers would be recruited whenever the university feels the need to fill vacant posts.
He urged the agitating teachers to reach a solution through discussions.
For the students, the situation continues to threaten their prospects as delays in classes and exams means that they are falling behind from their peers in getting on with their lives and careers.
Hasanuzzman, appearing in his third year final exams at the economics department, vented his frustrations, stating that dates for the protest programmes coincided with his scheduled exams.
Another student, Mosabber Hossain, doing his masters in geography and environment, said most of his teachers were not taking classes for the past two months, citing the excuse that they are attending the protest programmes.
Allegations are rife that teachers loyal to the administration are also cancelling classes to counter the protest programmes.
The government should ban teachers from affiliating with politics so that students never have to suffer, said Ferdous Mahmud, in his final year in physics department.
“The situation should not continue for long in this manner, jeopardizing the academic activities. The administration, especially the VC, should take proper steps to resolve the issues through discussions,” suggested JU Teachers' Association President Prof AA Mamun.
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