The agitating students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have not left their respective dormitories yet, continuing demonstrations and taking out processions across the campus to demand the Vice-Chancellor’s immediate resignation.
They have also issued threats to declare the Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed persona non-grata on the campus, for what the students say, ordering police to launch barbaric attacks on them on Sunday night.
At least 50 students were injured in the police attack. Besides, some teachers, staff and cops were also injured in the attack.
They also said the vice-chancellor must make a public apology expressing his regret for the whole incident.
And the protesting students announced that they would not leave the residential halls if their demands are not met.
The SUST authorities on Sunday night closed the university for an indefinite period and asked the students to vacate their dormitories by Monday noon.
But the students strongly protested the authorities’ decision to halt the classes and examinations alongside asking them to leave the halls.
Except the A-Building, agitated students yesterday afternoon locked all gates of the academic buildings and Vice-Chancellor office.
Besides, they also launched a mass signature campaign to expedite the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor.
However, the university authorities on Monday passed a busy time at the A Building for the admission process of first year honours students for 2020-21 academic sessions.
Meanwhile, some students were seen leaving their respective residential halls as per the authorities’ instruction while many others refused to leave and joined the protest rally.
Students of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury female dormitory began protesting from Thursday to have their three-point demand including the removal of the hall Provost Jafrin Ahmed who on Sunday night resigned from her post citing health issues.
Read More: SUST Job Circular 2021 – www.sust.edu
And Dr Nazia Chowdhury of the Physics department has been appointed in her place.
From Monday morning, students from different male and female residential halls started gathering at the university’s Golchattor and its surrounding areas.
Parading different roads on the campus, the agitating students took position in front of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin’s official residence and continued chanting slogans against him till filing of this report at 6:15 pm on Monday.
On the other hand, a heavy contingent of helmeted police equipped with sophisticated firearms also took position adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor’s official residence.
As soon as the cops entered the campus, the protesting students received them with flowers and requested law enforcers not to beat them up.
And students announced that they will be demonstrating on the campus till the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation.
Talking to the university correspondents, Azbahar Ali Khan, deputy commissioner (North Zone) said like the previous day they came here as the university authorities requested them to control law and order.
“We believe in peace. Therefore, there is no chance for repetition of any violence on the campus,” he said.
Earlier on Sunday the protesting students had kept the Vice-Chancellor confined at the IICT building.
Police later clubbed the students indiscriminately to free the Vice-Chancellor.
Apart from these, the cops also fired fifty sound grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protest on Sunday afternoon, and students reacted by throwing brick chips at them.
Talking to reporters, Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed alleged that an identified quarter committed the heinous act at the campus with an ill motive in order to create unrest on the campus.
“We were at the stage of solving the problem. But an identified quarter has made it difficult. We believe that we will be able to overcome the present crisis,” he added.
