BU students enter VC's residence by breaking gate, disrupt syndicate meeting

A group of students of Barishal University today (14 February) entered the vice-chancellor's residence by breaking the gate, and obstructed a syndicate meeting. 

The meeting was organised by Vice-Chancellor Suchita Sharmin at 3pm. However, students started a protest in front of the VC's residence from noon, accusing the meeting of trying to rehabilitate Awami League supporters. 

The protesters stopped syndicate members from entering the VC's residence. Upon learning that four members were already inside to attend the syndicate meeting, they broke the gate of the residence and started shouting anti-VC slogans. They urged the syndicate members to leave the VC's residence within five minutes.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Golam Rabbani said, "I was prevented from entering the meeting venue when I went to attend the scheduled meeting. After waiting there for about half an hour, I learned that the meeting had been converted into a special meeting with only one topic to discuss. Since the topic was not an urgent matter of the university and I could not attend the meeting in person, I refused to join the meeting."

Assistant Proctor Marufa Akhter requested the students to go to the proctor's office. The students refused and raised a 10-point demand.

Meanwhile, Imran Al-Amin, former coordinator of Anti-discrimination Student Movement at Barisal University, said he was beaten up by protesters when he tried to stop the students from entering the VC's residence.

Students' demands

The 10-point demands of the students are: the removal of the registrar within 24 hours as his term has expired; calling a syndicate meeting with representatives of internal teachers; bringing back two teachers who were dismissed as syndicate members because their terms had not expired; announcing a roadmap for the student council elections within the next 72 hours; making provision for student representatives in the syndicate; disclosing the topics discussed by the syndicate to journalists; presenting the vice-chancellor's steps to develop infrastructure to the students with evidence after being appointed; sending a letter to the chief adviser as soon as possible highlighting the need for developing the university's infrastructure; clearly apologising to the students for closeness with associates of the dictatorship; not allocating new positions to those who held various administrative positions in the previous administration and showing due respect to teachers.

Shahidul Islam, a student of the Bangla department, said, "We have launched a movement to prevent the rehabilitation of Awami fascists. If our demands are not accepted, we will launch a tougher movement from Sunday."

What the vice-chancellor says

Responding to the students' allegations and demands, Vice-Chancellor Shuchita Sharmin said, "The students have claimed that there are fascists in the syndicate. We have removed two from the syndicate in response to their demands. We are working to fulfill their demands but we need time. Disappointingly, one issue after another is being created. The students' studies are being affected. Administrative complications are being created. 

"We have discussed the students' demands before, and if necessary, we will sit again. We will sit as many times as necessary. Even then, my request is that the students should be aware so that the fair environment of the university is not disrupted."