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JU stays in a critical state

Education held hostage to agitation of pro-anti VC groups

JU Correspondent
Two agitating students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday fell sick during their fast-unto-death demanding resignation of the vice-chancellor. One of them was admitted to a private hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Moreover, two teachers on behalf of Shikkhak Samaj — Soma Momtaz of drama and dramatics department and Shamima Sultana of Bangla department — yesterday joined the programme over the same demand.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the government would soon take effective steps to solve the ongoing stalemate at JU.
Four students — Rasel Rana, Zubair Hossain, Sadia Zafrin and Atia Ferdousee Chaity -- under the banner of Jahangirnagar Sangskritik Jote started the fast-unto-death programme Tuesday in front of the residence of VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir.
Of them, Rana was sent to Enam Medical College Hospital at Savar yesterday upon suggestion of the duty doctor Shyamol Kumar Shil at the university's medical centre.
Shikkhak Samaj is demanding the resignation of VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir since the murder of Zubair Ahmed, an English department student, on January 9. In December, they launched demonstration against the VC protesting recruitment of teachers and different irregularities.
Yesterday, a number of noted personalities including eminent educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury, ruling-party lawmaker from Narayanganj Sarah Kabori, Hamida Sultana, president of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), lawyer Sara Hossain, rights activist Khushi Kabir, prominent lawyer Shahdeen Malik, Prof Gitiara Nasrin, chairman of mass communication and journalism department of Dhaka University, and columnist Rahnuma Ahmed expressed their solidarity with the agitators.
Conveying their grave concern over the situation, they said the highest authority of the government should come forward to overcome the deadlock at JU. Kabori said the VC should resign for the greater interest of the university. She also told the demonstrators that she would talk to the prime minister on the issue.
On Tuesday, journalist Nurul Kabir, editor of daily New Age, media personalities Mamunur Rashid, Shampa Reza and Banya Mirza, singer Quazi Krishnakali Islam and Prof Anu Muhammad of JU economics department joined the demonstration and expressed solidarity with the students.
Ruling party MP Tarana Halim, also a JU senate member, the same day went to the university and talked to the agitating and antiagitation groups of teachers. She urged them to come to a mutual understanding to end the deadlock.
Prof Anu Muhammad said appointment of the VC to a public university under political consideration was the main reason behind such unexpected situation. “I see no way but the resignation of the incumbent
vice-chancellor to ease the crisis," he said.
The students decided to go for the fast-unto-death programme after Bangladesh Chhatra League men had beaten up at least 15 cultural activists on April 28 for protesting the pro-government student body's vandalism at a demonstration by the teachers the day before.
Shakila Sharmin, general secretary of Sangskritik Jote, told The Daily Star that they filed a case against 16 BCL activists on April 29 mentioning their profile but the law enforcers were yet to arrest any of the accused until yesterday.
Badrul Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station, said they had already taken necessary measures to nab the culprits.
Prof Nasim Akhtar Hossain, convenor of Shikkhak Samaj, said the VC had to vacate his position for his alleged involvement in teachers' recruitment business, irregularities, leasing university property, and beating up and killing student using BCL activists on the campus.
Meanwhile, 273 teachers under the banner General Teachers of Jahangirnagar University yesterday urged the university's Chancellor Zillur Rahman, the president of the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the education minister and law enforcement agencies to pay attention to the matter, said a press release.
The teachers, marked as loyal to the VC, also claimed that the agitating teachers had been creating chaos around the VC's residence by hurling abusive words. They alleged that the demonstrations were nothing but to fulfil the political motive of BNP-Jamaat alliance and personal interests of some teachers.
The education minister told The Daily Star, “We will soon take effective measures to dispel the impasse in Jahangirnagar University.” He, however, did not elaborate on the steps his ministry may take.
“We have discussed the issue with the vice-chancellor of the university today [Wednesday] morning. We hope to make a solution soon," Nahid said.
A top official of the ministry, wishing anonymity, said the minister met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday night at her office where they discussed about the ongoing stalemate at JU and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).