A group of Jahangirnagar University teachers under new platform on Tuesday announced fresh agitation programmes demanding resignation of their Vice Chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain, triggering further tension on the campus. As part of the programmes, the teachers under the banner of ‘General Teachers Forum’ will hold rallies in front of the university administrative building on Wednesday and the following day.
The agitating teachers will wear black badges and conduct mass-contact programme on the campus on August 3 to press home their demand. On behalf of teachers’ platform, Kamrul Ahsan, a teacher of Philosophy Department announced the programme in front of the administrative building in the afternoon.
Classes and examinations at the university could not be held today due to the unrest. Meanwhile, the regular syndicate meeting of the university was postponed in the face of the teachers’ protest. In an instant reaction, JU VC Prof Anwar Hossain at a press conference expressed dissatisfaction over the teachers’ agitation defying the High Court’s directive.
On July 24, the High Court directed the Vice Chancellor, two pro VCs and registrar of the university to take necessary steps so that its administrative activities are not hampered in any away.
Prof Anwar urged the agitating teachers to withdraw their programmes in the interest of the university and its students. Replying to a query, the VC said he would not resign. “But if all the students and teachers want me to do so, I’ll consider it.”
Earlier, another group of teachers JU Teachers’ Association had been demanding resignation of Prof Anwar Hossain since April 7 for not expelling JU unit Bangladesh Chhatra League General Secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel for assaulting a teacher on April 6.
They besieged the university administrative building for 38 days since June 19 to force the VC to resign. They, however, postponed their month-long protest programme on Monday in line with the High Court order. – UNB
