BCL men lock VC in his office for not appointing party member as lecturer

Activists of the Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League locked the university's vice chancellor in his office yesterday morning for not appointing the organisation's vice president as a lecturer at the chemistry department.

The BCL men took position in front of the VC office at 10am yesterday and locked him in for two hours.

They reportedly compelled the VC to postpone the interview for the teacher recruitment board of the Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS, scheduled for 10am yesterday morning.

Around 12pm, Gautam Kumar Biswas, the VC's secretary, informed the candidates and said they would be notified at a later date.

Later, the VC, pro-VC, treasurer, deans and other teachers held a meeting with JU unit's BCL President Aktaruzzaman Sohel and General Secretary Habibur Rahman Liton.

Sohel said after the meeting, "We don't want to see any kind of nepotism in the recruitment of teachers. Only qualified and pro-independence candidates should be appointed."

On 20 September, the university administration appointed three lecturers to the chemistry department. Chhatra League Vice President Sadia Afrin Papri was also a candidate for the post but she was not selected. This led BCL leaders and activists to cause a scene Sunday, according to sources.

The three newly appointed lecturers are former students of the department, all of whom have secured first or second rank in their respective graduation and post-graduation degrees. 

However, Chhatra League's Papri secured fifth place in graduation and third place in post-graduation. She is also accused of being involved in cheating and leaking questions in the third-year examination.

One of the candidates who had come in for the interview, Md Sujan, said, "I've come all the way from the capital's Khilgaon to sit for the exam after taking leave from my office. I waited a long time and now I have to go back. This is very disappointing."

Prof Sheikh Touhidul Islam, director of the institute, said, "The recruitment of teachers for our department is a dire need. Around 23 candidates applied for one vacant post. However, the postponement of the board is a very unexpected event."

Later on, Vice Chancellor Prof Md Nurul Alam said, "The university administration fully agrees with the demands made by the Chhatra League. In the recruitment of teachers, we are giving priority to the high achievers. I have recruited at least 40 teachers during my tenure. No one opposed to independence has ever been appointed."