Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) students ask VC, pro-VC to quit by Sunday,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Agitating students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) on Saturday warned of tougher movement if the vice chancellor and his deputy do not resign by Sunday.

The students, who thronged in front of the VC's residence around 1:30pm demanding the resignation of VC Prof SM Nazrul Islam and pro-VC Prof M Habibur Rahman, also declared to resume their agitation programmes including human chain and procession tomorrow morning.

They continued their demonstration till 2:45pm.

Earlier, more than 500 Buet students formed a human chain in front of Civil Engineering Building around 11:10am for 20 minutes and also brought out a procession, which paraded the whole campus demanding removal of their VC and pro-VC.

Meanwhile, demonstrating teachers of Buet sat with the vice chancellor and his deputy at their respective offices and urged them to resign immediately 'to protect the institution'.

During the hour-long meeting since noon, the VC told the teachers that he would inform his next steps after holding a talk the minister concerned.

Pro-VC Prof M Habibur Rahman however said he would talk to the appointing authorities in this regard during the half an hour meeting since 1:00pm.

"I will not make any comment right now," the VC said when reporters asked about his next initiative after the meeting.

The agitating students gathered in front of the VC residence, when Prof Nazrul returned to his residence from his office around 1:30pm.

A number of teachers joined the students' agitation programme today.

The teachers have joined the agitation individually, not under the banner of Buet Teachers' Association as the High Court directed the association not to stage any demonstration in the interest of smooth academic activities, Prof Ashraful Islam, general secretary of the association,

"This is not an anti-government movement. This is a movement for protecting the Buet and for removal of the VC and his deputy," the general secretary said.

The students resumed their demonstration on Saturday when Buet authorities insist the teachers to return to the classes, the latter stand rigid to their demand for removal of the duo.

The authorities issued a notice to all deans, heads of departments, teachers and officials concerned asking them to resume classes and start the process of admission test for first year immediately.

The teachers, however, did not declare any new programmes after they had called off their demonstration on July 31 following the HC order.

Buet Teachers' Association launched the agitation along with work abstention on April 7, bringing 16 allegations against the VC and Pro-VC. The general students and officials joined the agitation in mid July.

The virtually stagnant Buet reopened on Saturday after a 44-day closure but no classes have been held since then, hampering education of the students.

Since last week, no initiative is visible on the part of the government to settle the crisis at the country's leading engineering university.

While asked about the HC order, the protesters on Saturday said the HC order directed the teachers' association and its two leaders -- president and general secretary -- not to stage any agitation involving officials or students but the directive did not say anything about processions or meetings of the students.