Two students go on hunger strike over alleged corruption in RU teacher recruitment; probe committee formed

Two students of Rajshahi University (RU) have gone on a hunger strike unto death, protesting alleged financial transactions and corruption in the recruitment process of teachers at the Department of Theatre.

The hunger strike began at 3pm on Saturday (25 October) in front of the university's administrative building and was still ongoing till the filing of this report this evening (26 October). 

Earlier yesterday, a group of students locked the department's office in solidarity with the protest. Later in the evening, the demonstrators moved to the vice-chancellor's residence to continue their sit-in.

In response to their demands, the university authorities have formed an investigation committee to look into the allegations.

The hunger strikers are Sadeq Rahman, a fourth-year student of the Department of Theatre, and Fuad Ratul, convener of the Socialist Student Front's RU unit, who joined him in solidarity.

During the protest, they carried placards reading, "Hunger strike against corruption in theatre department recruitment," "Fight corruption together," "Ensure accountability," and "Break the black hand of the syndicate."

Fuad Ratul said, "Even after the call record revealing financial dealings in teacher recruitment went public, the administration dismissed it as AI-generated audio. There are also allegations of forgery in the written examination. As no steps have been taken despite repeated demands for a transparent investigation, we have resorted to this hunger strike. We will not withdraw until significant action is taken beyond merely forming a probe committee."

Sadeq Rahman added, "No one willingly chooses a hunger strike unto death. When every door is closed, people are left with no other way. We have not incited a mob; we are fighting through due process. If our demands are not met, the administration will have to hold the syndicate meeting over our dead bodies."

Earlier, the two staged symbolic hunger strikes — a four-hour one on Thursday (23 October) and an eight-hour one on Friday (24 October).

Prof Habib Zakaria and Associate Prof Kazi Sushmin Afsana of the Department of Theatre expressed solidarity with the students during their protest on Saturday.

Prof Habib Zakaria said, "Even after the allegations surfaced, the department chair did not hold any formal discussion with teachers and students. I express my solidarity with the students' demands, keeping faith in the university administration."

Attempts to contact Prof Mir Mehboob, chair of the Department of Theatre, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls.

Probe committee formed

Meanwhile, the university authorities have formed a committee to investigate the alleged corruption in recruitment, according to a press release signed by Prof Akhtar Hossain Majumder, administrator of the university's public relations office.

The release stated that the committee was formed to investigate the reports and leaked audio recordings related to the teacher recruitment process at the Department of Theatre. Prof M Asadul Haque of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has been appointed as the convener of the committee.

Earlier, a candidate who took part in the recruitment examination had lodged written complaints with several authorities, including the vice-chancellor, alleging irregularities in the recruitment process. On 28 September, the candidate also sent a legal notice through a lawyer to the vice-chancellor, registrar, and several other concerned officials.