Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) will observe a 48-hour strike on the campus again from Sunday demanding expulsion of a teacher who allegedly harassed a female student sexually.
Spokesperson of the agitating students Shariful Islam Bulbul made the announcement at a rally held in front of the Library Bhaban of the university on Saturday noon.Later, the agitating students brought out a procession on the campus in support of their strike.
Earlier, the SUST students observed a strike on Thursday to realise their demand.
The fresh strike was announced as the university authorities did not respond to their demand, said the students.
On Tuesday, SUST syndicate took punitive action against Nasir Uddin, a teacher of the department, and its two staff members on charge of sexually harassing the female student.
The decision was taken at the university syndicate meeting held at the Vice-chancellor’s office on the campus on Tuesday evening.
As per the decision taken at the meeting, assistant professor Nasir Uddin has been relieved of all kinds of academic and administrative activities for one year.
The staff of the department Abu Saleh has been removed and its assistant administrative officer Atiqur Rahman demoted on the similar charge.
However, the action against the trio could not appease the students demonstrating on the campus demanding expulsion of Nasir Uddin for life.
Following the VC’s statement, the agitating students locked into an altercation with assistant proctors Mirazul Islam and Azharul Arafat.
Later, the students issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities concerned to meet their demand, threatening to go for a tougher movement if the demand was not met by Thursday.
It’s mentionable that earlier Abu Saleh was suspended from Public Administration Department on April 1 following the allegation of the sexual harassment against him. – UNB
