BU students lock down admin building demanding VC's resignation, declare shutdown
Around 11:00am, students gathered on the university’s ground floor and began marching in protest, chanting slogans and staging a sit-in
Barishal University students have escalated their protest demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Sucharita Sharmin, locking down the administrative building and declaring a campus-wide administrative shutdown today (6 May).
The protest that began 15 days back intensified on Sunday (4 May) when students consolidated their demands into a single call for the VC's removal.
Around 11:00am, students gathered on the university's ground floor and began marching in protest, chanting slogans and staging a sit-in. They later locked the administrative building, forcing out officials, and officially declared a shutdown of all administrative activities.
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Facing intense backlash from the students, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Golam Rabbani and Treasurer Md Mamun Ur Rashid left the campus.
Mosharraf Hossain, a student from the History Department, told The Business Standard, "We have been raising our voices for a long time, but the VC has ignored all of our concerns. She [VC] rules with an autocratic mindset.
"We will continue our movement until she resigns," he added.
SM Wahidur Rahman, a Law student, said, "With the consensus of students across departments, we have decided to enforce a full shutdown. Five departments have already issued statements supporting the VC's resignation, and we expect more to follow.
"We are also prepared to suspend academic activities and, if necessary, go on a hunger strike."
The protest initially began with four key demands. However, tensions heightened after a general diary (GD) was filed with the police station against 10 protesting students.
The situation further deteriorated when a student suffering from cancer reportedly applied for financial aid from the VC three times in five months without receiving any response.
Following the student's death, the movement intensified, evolving into a one-point demand for the VC's resignation.
Efforts to obtain comments from university officials were unsuccessful, and no law enforcement presence was observed on the campus.
