BCL locks down CU, gives VC '48 hours'
Chittagong, Jan 17 (bdnews24.com) BCL students locked down Chittagong University campus and gave the vice chancellor 48 hours to resign on Saturday.
"They lifted an hours-long siege of the VC residence, but the siege to the main entrance, the registrar's office and other key buildings are still on," Hathazari police officer-in-charge Md Alamgir Hossain told bdnews24.com at 11pm.
Earlier in the day, the OC said, six platoons of armed police were deployed on campus, as BCL held the campus hosatge by padlocking buildings and the main gates.
The AL-backed student wing also surrounded VC M Badiul Alam's residence and issued their ultimatum to him through Chittagong additional police superintendent Amena Begum, he said.
University offices were closed and all vehicle movement suspended.
Witnesses say tensions mounted after members of Islami Chhatra Shibir expelled members of BCL from Hassan Cottage on campus, a traditional stronghold of the pro-Jamaat Shibir.
Senior teachers, officials and provosts of different halls began a meeting with VC Badiul Alam at 2pm to find a solution to the crisis that brought the institution to a standstill.
Three hours later, emerging from the meeting, assistant proctor Manzur Morshed said they had "discussed the situation which is now under control."
The siege of the VC's house was lifted.
Additional police have been deployed to avert any untoward situation, Morshed said.
Meanwhile, a group of "pro-liberation" teachers also demanded removal of the VC, appointed by the past BNP-Jamaat government, accusing him of corruption in university appointments.
Associate professor Hossain Kabir told bdnews24.com, "There are serious allegations of unfair means in appointments of teachers and employees."
A syndicate meeting was also called off by vice chancellor Alam amid the troubles.
"New teachers were supposed to be appointed and temporary teachers and officials were to be made permanent at the next meeting on Jan 19," said syndicate member Md Kamaluddin.
"But faced with pressure from teachers, the syndicate meeting was suspended," said Kamaluddin.
Dean of the social sciences faculty, Prof Gazi Salauddin told bdnews24.com, "The accusation against the BNP-Jamaat backed VC, of corruption in appointments, is an old one."
"We protested in the past but nothing happened as he had a strong backing."
The pressure on the VC has mounted after the change of government, said the dean.
BCL students defended their action Saturday, saying they had failed to get the administration to act after being attacked by Shibir students.
"We wanted a peaceful solution to this but the administration did not respond to our call," CU Chhatra League general secretary Md Ershad Hossain told bdnews24.com.
"We have given a 48-hour ultimatum for the VC's resignation," said Hossain.
BCL locks down CU, gives VC '48 hours' :: Education :: bdnews24.com ::