22 Barishal University teachers join students in VC removal protest

Twenty-two teachers of Barishal University (BU) have joined protesting students in demanding the removal of the university's Vice Chancellor, Suchita Sharmin. 

They joined the students' sit-in programme on the ground floor of the university and made the announcement at 12:30pm today (8 May).

The teachers said they will stand with all the demands of the students and continue the movement until the vice chancellor is removed.

Among the teachers who spoke were Mohsin Uddin, Hafiz Ashraful Haque, Sanjay Sarkar, Jyotirmoy Biswas, Unmesh Roy, Khadija Begum, and Mostakim Hossein.

"After taking office, the vice chancellor verbally spoke about maintaining the spirit of July, but she does not uphold it. Instead, she has appointed associates of the fallen AL government to various important and lucrative positions," said Mohsin Uddin. 

"She has violated regulations by making controversial appointments and various other actions. She makes all decisions unilaterally at the university. She doesn't even have time to open and review the file of a cancer-stricken student's application. That's why students are protesting," he added. 

Mohsin said he believes the students are doing this movement with legitimate demands. "Which is why my colleagues and I have joined in support," he added. 

"She [Suchita Sharmin] failed to fulfill her promises after taking office. Rather, she began harassing those who supported the July revolution," said Hafiz Ashraful Haque, another teacher of the university. 

"We believe that Suchita Sharmin has failed to run the university. She is establishing fascism while ignoring teachers and students. Therefore, agreeing with the students' legitimate demand, we have also joined the movement," he added. 

Protesting student Sujoy Shubho said, "The vice chancellor has not worked in our interest. She is working to reinstate AL associates. We will not return to classes until she is removed."

After the sit-in programme, teachers and students held protest marches around the BU campus and on the Barishal-Kuakata highway.

Earlier yesterday (7 May), students removed the security personnel from the vice chancellor's residence and locked the main gate.

BU students have been protesting since 4 May, demanding the resignation of the university's VC, accusing her of 'reinstating fascism' at the university, ill-mannered behaviour towards students, and humiliating teachers.

Earlier on 29 April night, Barishal University students blocked the Barishal-Kuakata highway in protest against the filing of a general diary (GD) against 22 students involved in ongoing demonstrations demanding the removal of the university registrar. 

The GD was filed on 28 April by BU Assistant Registrar (Security) KM Sanowar Parvez Liton against 22 students for allegedly disrupting the academic environment and creating chaos on campus.

The complaint named 10 students and listed another 10–12 as unidentified.

Earlier, the protesting students had demanded the removal of Registrar Monirul Islam and the reinstatement of Professor Mohsin Uddin to his former position.

On 27 April, as part of their movement, the students burned an effigy of the registrar and locked his office, after which the GD was filed.