BANGLADESH NEWS
The Buet teachers agitating for the removal of the vice-chancellor and his deputy have threatened to resign en masse if the demand is not met by Sunday.
They issued the ultimatum at a press briefing last night, also announcing that from today they will stage two-hour sit-in at the Buet administrative building from 11:00am every day till Saturday.
"We have decided to go for mass resignation if nothing happens by Sunday to meet our demand to get the VC and pro-VC relieved of their posts," Prof Mujibur Rahman, president of Buet Teachers Association,
The decision came hours after Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid held a meeting with Buet's "recently resigned" deans and department heads, former VCs and students at the ministry's conference room.
Participants of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting suggested the government arrange an "honourable exit" of the VC and pro-VC, saying it was not possible to solve the ongoing crisis keeping the two in position.
In response, Nahid said he would convey the suggestions to the chancellor and the prime minister as soon as possible and seek their directives on the issue.
"We will take a decision after discussions with all concerned and informing the chancellor and the prime minister about the meeting. We will definitely consider their opinions [of the meeting attendees] while taking decision," he told reporters.
Ex-Buet VCs Abdul Matin Patowari, MH Khan and Iqbal Mahmud, eminent citizens like Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and Mir Mobassher Ali, Bangladesh Institute of Engineers President Nurul Huda, architect Rabiul Hossain and Abul Kashem also attended the meeting.
State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafes Osman, Chairman of University Grants Commission Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education Ministry Rashed Khan Menon and Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury were also present.
At the meeting, most of the attendees said the VC and his deputy have no moral right to stay in their positions anymore since he lost trust of a majority of his colleagues, some teachers told, wishing anonymity.
They told the minister that some irregularities have taken place at the university with the direct involvement of the VC.
At the discussion, an attendee quoted a Buet teacher as saying, "Grades of two students have been changed in his [VC's] direction."
One of the former VCs informed the minister that he would have resigned if such situation had arisen.
Some of the former students said there was no necessity of more investigation into the situation while a teacher suggested posting the duo to equivalent positions in other places.
"We all at the meeting have suggested ensuring an honourable exit of the vice-chancellor and pro-VC," Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury told.
The education minister said they held the meeting for opinions and suggestions of senior teachers and former students, not to take any decision.
"We heard and recorded statements of former vice-chancellors, eminent citizens and deans and departmental heads of the university about what they think is necessary to resolve the crisis. They have given their opinions on different issues," the minister added.
"We will try to find a peaceful and fair solution to the crisis."
He requested the agitating teachers and students to call of the movement, saying that a fair solution is possible through discussion.
Teachers, students and staff of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on Wednesday started indefinite sit-in at the administrative building to press home their 16-point demand that include the resignation of the vice-chancellor and pro-VC.
The heads of all faculties, institutes and departments of Buet resigned en masse on the first day of the sit-in.
The movement, spearheaded by the teachers association, began after the university authorities shut the institution for 44-day closure in advance for Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Yesterday, the agitators observed a token hunger strike for two hours from 11:00am on the campus to press home their demands.
Meanwhile, a section of teachers, students and employees yesterday formed a human chain in front of Buet cafeteria where the urged the prime minister and chancellor to resume academic activities of the university.
Under the banner of Buet Teachers-Students-Officials-Employees Oikkya Forum, they also demanded a judicial committee probe into the allegation raised by the teachers association.
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