BANGLADESH NEWS
Despite opposition by a section of teachers, the Jahangirnagar University authorities are firm on holding a special senate session on July 20 to elect a three-member panel of vice chancellor.
“I am determined to hold the election on schedule and I believe the ongoing crisis can be resolved through restoring democratic process,” said JU VC Prof Anwar Hossain while exchanging views with journalists on the campus yesterday.
Prof Anwar said the July 20 event is crucial because there has been no election to the highest post of the university for the last eight years.
The university may plunge into further crisis if unelected persons remain in the top administrative positions, he added.
A well-known Dhaka University teacher belonging to pro-Awami League Blue panel, Anwar Hossain was appointed JU VC on May 20 following teacher-student agitations that forced the former VC Shariff Enamul Kabir to quit.
He is still the president of DU Teachers Association (DUTA).
Anwar also noted there has also been no election to the VC post at Dhaka University for over the last three years, a clear violation of the 1973 ordinance.
Though appointed for four years, Prof Anwar has chosen to go for election to the post as per the university act only to restore democratic process as well as bring an end of longstanding crises, he said.
The Jahangirnagar University Act, 1973 says “The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor for a period of four years from a panel of three persons to be nominated by the Senate on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Chancellor, and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further period of four years.”
In reply to a question, Prof Anwar said, “This is not important whether I will be candidate for the VC post or not. But I will not withdraw if anyone proposes my name as a VC candidate at the special senate session on July 20.”
On another question, he termed illogical a section of teachers' opposing the election.
Under the banner of Sammilito Shikkhak Parishad, a group of teachers continued laying siege to the administrative building for the fourth straight day yesterday to press for senate election before the VC panel polls.
“The July 20 election will be held at any cost and it would not be deferred under any circumstances,” the VC said and urged the teachers to call off agitation for the sake of the university.
Asked why he has not called the senate election first, Prof Anwar said some complexities have arisen as no elections of registered graduate representatives have taken place over the past 14 years following a court injunction. Also, the Jahangirnagar University Central Students Union (Jucsu) has been stalled for years.
Meanwhile, a statement of Sammilito Shikkhak Parishad yesterday said tenures of 55 out of 92 senate members have already expired and thus the senate polls have become essential.
The VC ignoring all the “logical” demands announced the VC panel election date, it added.
“The move of the VC to hurriedly hold the VC election bypassing the senate election is apparently a deep rooted conspiracy to cover up the irregularities and corruption of immediate past VC and his associates as well as to re-establish them in power.”
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