SUST students on fast unto death for VC’s resignation 

Students started a fast unto death programme at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Wednesday, demanding resignation of the university vice-chancellor.

Meanwhile, a section of teachers at SUST started agitation in front of the university gate in protest against alleged derogatory comments by the protesting students.  

In this context, the university authorities have deferred the upcoming syndicate election scheduled for 2 February, VC Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said. 

The agitating students started an anti-VC movement on Sunday, setting an ultimatum of 12 PM Wednesday for his resignation. 

As the VC did not resign by this time, 24 students started a hunger strike in front of the residence of the VC on the seventh day of the ongoing movement. 

They said that they would continue their hunger strike if the VC, proctorial body and student's welfare adviser do not resign.  

If any student dies because of hunger strike or face any health risk, the VC, members of the proctorial body and the student's welfare adviser are to blame, they warned. 

Jahidul Islam, one of the students participating in hunger strike, said the VC has taken their demands lightly and does not have any sympathy for the protestors.  

"He (VC) is rather busy in propagating against the students in the media without paying heed to the students' demand," he alleged.

Earlier, more than 50 teachers started a protest against the students for allegedly insulting them using 'inappropriate' and 'offensive' language.    

One of the protesting teachers, Professor Laila Ashrafun, of the social works department alleged the students used offensive language. 

But the protesting students rejected the teacher's allegations as baseless. 

"A section of teachers, instigated by the VC, have been protesting to foil our movement," said Sabbir Ahmed, an agitating student.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, being asked if he would resign as demanded by the students, said the decision will be taken following the report of the probe committee formed by the government. 

On the student movement, he said the teachers are calling upon the protestors to discuss but they are refusing. Besides, the university is inquiring through a committee who prompted the police to attack the students.   

Meanwhile, hundreds of students at Jahangirnagar University formed a human chain Wednesday in protest at the offensive remarks involving JU female students by the SUST VC. 

They also burnt an effigy of the SUST VC following a human chain at the Central Shahid Minar on JU campus Wednesday afternoon.

SUST VC Farid Uddin Ahmed was recently heard making derogatory comments on JU students in a recently leaked audio clip saying, "No one wants to marry JU girls."