Probe body formed over unrest at Bangladesh Agricultural University

A six-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the recent unrest at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), including the reported confinement of the vice and nearly 250 teachers inside an auditorium for nearly eight hours and incidents of vandalism.

The committee was constituted today (2 September) on the directive of BAU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr AKM Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, according to an official order signed by acting registrar Agriculturist Dr Helal Uddin.

Professor Md Rafiqul Islam Sardar, dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and President of the BAU Teachers' Association, has been appointed as the head of the committee. Dr Md Manjur Hossain, deputy registrar of Establishment Branch-2, will serve as the member secretary.

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Other members of the committee are Prof Dr Mohammad Golzarul Aziz, Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Prof Dr Kazi Farhad Qadir, Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman Khan, Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking, Muhammad Enamul Haque, additional chief engineer of Public Works Department-1.

The committee has been instructed to submit its findings and recommendations as soon as possible.

According to the order, the unrest stems from a memorandum submitted on 7 August by students of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Faculty, demanding a combined degree to enhance their job prospects.

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In response, the vice chancellor formed a separate committee on 12 August to address the issue.

The recommendations from that committee were presented at an emergency Academic Council meeting on 31 August, attended by 251 faculty members. 

Based on those recommendations, the council unanimously decided to award three degrees, aiming to meet the students' demands and resolve the issue.