As the stalemate at Jahangirnagar University (JU) refused to die down, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid stepped in on Friday to resolve the crisis. He urged the agitating teachers to sit in a dialogue with him on Saturday to find a way to break the deadlock prevailing over the resignation of JU Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Anwar Hossain.
The JU teachers under the banner of ‘Sadharan Shikkhak Forum’ have been on a movement since April 27 to realise their 12-point demand, including the removal of the VC. “The Education Minister asked us to sit in a dialogue with him at his office on Saturday and we’ll take part in the dialogue,” convener of ‘Sadharan Shikkhak Forum’ Prof Hanif Ali told UNB over phone.
Meanwhile, JU VC Prof Anwar Hossain said he is ready to quit if the Chancellor asks him to do so. Both the teachers of the university and VC sought intervention of the Chancellor to bring an end to the impasse.
Besides, the agitating teachers kept the VC confined to his office for the third consecutive day on Friday. The teachers started their siege programme before VC office around 12 noon on Wednesday. They also vowed to continue the programme until the VC steps down The resignation demand came as the VC did not take proper punitive measures against JU unit BCL secretary Razib Ahmed Rasel who assaulted Nurul Haque, a lecturer of Economics Department, and also a syndicate member. -UNB
