Vice-Chancellor of BUET Prof lobal Mahmud resigned yesterday, according to official sources.

All the 71 teachers of the university holding administrative posts also resigned from their posts, the sources said.

Sources close to the Vice-Chancellor told this correspondent that the university authorities came under "constant pressure” from the government for reinstatement of the 13 teachers who resigned earlier.

The Vice-Chancellor faxed his resignation letter to the sec retary to the Chancellor of BUET at noon yesterday, the sources said.

But the VC could not be contacted despite repeated attempts till last night. The Prime Minister is the Chancellor of the university and the education secretary- is the secretary to the Chancellor.

Of the four Syndicate members. two nominated by the government. Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and Prof NooruddIn Ahmed, also sent their resignation letters to the secretary to the Chancellor through fax

following the VC's resignation, the sources said.

When contacted last night, the secretary to the Chancellor confirmed that he got the resignation letters. After the VC's resignation, heads of 16 departments. directors of six institutes and provosts and assistant provosts of the eight residential halls of the university resigned from their administrative posts yesterday, the sources said.

They submitted their resignation letters at the VC's office, the sources said.

Some of the resigning teachers when contacted last night confirmed their resignation from administrative posts. "I submitted my resignation letter to the VC's office at 1 pm." Prof Khaleda Rashid, head of the Architecture department told The Daily Star.

President of BUET Teachers' Association Prof Abdur Razzak also confirmed resignation of the teachers from their administrative’ posts.

Meanwhile. the BUET Teachers Association in an emergency meeting yesterday evening decided to go on an indefinite strike from today.

The meeting resolved that strike would continue till Prof Iqbal Mahmud returned to the university with full authority as the Vice-Chancellor, sources in. the meeting said.

The meeting also resolved that the association would not endorse appointment of any person either from the BUET or from outside as the VC of the university other than Prof Iqbal Mahmud.

These 13 teachers had resigned protesting changes in admission rules of the Architecture Department.

The new admission rules introduced physics in the admission test for the Architecture Department. Besides, a minimum score, in drawing in the admission test was also set.

Meanwhile, the BUET Officers Association in a press release yesterday expressed their "concern at the interference by top government executives in the administrative affairs of the university, violating its autonomy."

The BUET Officers Association continued their work abstention for the second consecutive day yesterday, the release said. The association began a 12-day work abstention on Sunday to realise the four-point demand of the Inter University Officers Federation.