BANGLADESH NEWS
Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday started agitation demanding immediate resignation of the vice chancellor of Pabna University of Science and Technology for what they said widespread corruption and nepotism at the institution.
The university faced a stalemate as eight men of the 18-member Regent Board, including two Pabna lawmakers, were replaced on Thursday, sources said.
The Regent Board is highest administrative authority of the university.
Workers and employees of the university also demonstrated on the campus to press for their seven-point demand, worsening the situation yesterday.
Against the backdrop, the authorities announced closure of the university from June 18 to July 8 in the name of annual summer vacation although the vacation usually starts within mid-May, campus sources said.
Pabna district unit of BCL along with the students of the university blocked the administrative building, confining the vice chancellor inside.
They also put blockade on Dhaka-Pabna highway in front of the university academic building at Raghobpur village in the district headquarters.
“The vice chancellor appointed many of his relatives and favourites in university during the last three years. The construction work of the academic building is yet to complete due to his corruption,” said Ahmed Sharif Dablu, president of Pabna district unit of BCL.
Hundreds of workers and employees of the university formed a human chain in front of the administrative building demanding formation of workers and employees union, and formulation of proper policy to ensure job security and due promotion of the staff.
Lawmaker of Pabna-4 constituency Shamsur Rahman Sarif Dilu and lawmaker of Pabna-5 Golam Faruk Khandaker Prince are among the eight persons dropped from the reformed Regent Board.
They were replaced by lawmaker of Sirajganj-3 Ishaque Hossain Talukder and lawmaker of Natore-3 Junaid Ahmed Polok.
"The vice chancellor made the change in the Regent Board as we often protested his whimsical decisions and appointment of staff through nepotism," said lawmaker Golam Faruk Khandaker Prince.
When the local journalists tried to talk with the vice chancellor about the situation, the university administration did not permit them to enter the university building yesterday.
In a press release issued by Md Faruk Hossain Chowdhury, public relation officer the university, authorities claimed that the vice chancellor is not responsible for change in the Regent Board.
"The honourable president and the prime minister have approved the Regent Board according to the university act. Recruitments at the university were done according to rules after approval at the Regent Board meeting and there was no corruption regarding construction on the campus," it added.
Summer vacation started at predefined date. Not for student agitation. As far as I know only 6 students of PSTU involved in this agitation. Others in the picture were hired people
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