Rangpur Medical College (RMC) students, teachers, and staff have announced a complete shutdown of the institution for Wednesday, demanding the removal of Principal Mahfuzar Rahman.
Additionally, a two-hour work stoppage is scheduled for Tuesday as part of ongoing protests led by the RMC’s anti-discrimination students-teachers, and employees.
The announcement came from Dr Shariful Islam Mondal, General Secretary of the Movement Committee and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, during a press briefing on Sunday.
The demand for Principal Mahfuzar Rahman’s removal intensified with a protest march held earlier on Sunday. Beginning at the medical college campus, demonstrators marched across the college hospital grounds, concluding with a rally outside the principal’s office.
At the rally, Dr Shariful Islam Mondal called for the shutdown, citing a lack of response from the administration.
“If Principal Mahfuzar Rahman is not removed from his position, indoor and outdoor services at Rangpur Medical College will be halted for two hours on Tuesday,” Dr. Mondal declared. “If he remains in office beyond that, we will observe a full shutdown on Wednesday. Further, more severe actions will follow if there is still no resolution.”
The movement, supported by doctors, students, and employees, alleged that Dr Mahfuzar Rahman, who served as Vice Principal for five years under the Awami League government, collaborated with the Chhatra League to suppress anti-discrimination student protests during the July Revolution at the college.
One specific accusation is that Rahman attempted to manipulate the autopsy report of Shaheed Abu Sayed, a student who tragically died amid the protests.
According to the protestors, these actions have discredited his leadership and intensified the demand for his removal.
The controversy surrounding his appointment as Principal has only fueled the unrest. On October 29, a formal notice appointed Mahfuzar Rahman as the new head of RMC, prompting immediate backlash from student groups and faculty.
The impending shutdown at Rangpur Medical College could disrupt essential medical services in the area, as RMC plays a critical role in healthcare provision in Rangpur.
Both students and faculty are prepared to continue their protest efforts if their demands are not met, and the threat of even stricter measures adds pressure on the administration to respond.
