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Buet stalemate takes new turn

No classes held after Eid holidays; now students prepare to stage demo for removal of VC and pro-VC

Wasim Bin Habib
The deadlock at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) appears to deepen further as the students resume demonstration today demanding removal of the vice chancellor and his deputy.
Meanwhile, even though the Buet authorities insist the teachers to return to the classes, the latter stand rigid to their demand for removal of the duo. They think it is the only solution to the crisis.
The teachers, however, did not declare any new programmes after they had called off their demonstration on July 31 following a High Court order. The court that day directed them not to stage any demonstration in the interest of smooth academic activities.
Buet Teachers' Association launched the agitation along with work abstention on April 7, bringing 16 allegations against VC Prof SM Nazrul Islam and Pro-VC Prof M Habibur Rahman. The general students and officials joined the agitation in mid July.
The virtually stagnant Buet reopened on Saturday after a 44-day closure but no classes have been held since then, hampering education of
SEE PAGE 19 COL 2 FROM PAGE 20 the students.
Since last week, no initiative is visible on the part of the government to settle the crisis at the country's leading engineeringuniversity.
The students of the senior-most '07 batch decided to hold a mass gathering on the campus at 11:00am today and bring out a protest procession. They will also form a human chain to press home their demand, said the agitating students.
"We declared the programmes after consulting with the students of other batches to save our institution," said Sudipto, one of the students of the batch studying mechanical engineering, adding that the next step would be decided after today's demonstration.
"Our stance is clear. We will return to the classes only after the removal of the vice chancellor and the pro-vice chancellor. It is our decision and we aredoingitspontaneously," he told The Daily Star.
Asked why they resumed their demonstration when the teachers suspended it following the HC order, Sudipto said the HC order directed the teachers' association and its two leaders — president and general secretary—nottostage any agitation involving officials or students. “But the directive did not say anything about processions or meetings of the students,” he mentioned.
LETTERS ISSUED TO START CLASS
The authorities, quoting the HC directives, yesterday issued a notice to all deans, heads of departments, teachers and officials concerned asking them to resume classes and start the process of admission testforfirstyear immediately.
Contacted, VC Prof Nazrul said, "We have issued the notice today [yesterday] and will issue letters to all academic council members tomorrow [Saturday] to attend the academic council meeting scheduled for Monday to take decision about the admission test.”
"I hope the teachers will soften their stance and return to the classes and participate in the academic council meeting," hesaid.
Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury told The Daily Star yesterday that he hoped the teachers would go to classes in accordance with the HC order.
ProfAshraful Islam, general secretary of the teachers' association, said, "The only solution lies in the removal of the VC and the pro-VC as the general teachers have expressed no confidence in them. Moreover, the duo were involved with irregularities and now are failing to resume the normal activities of the university.”
"Buet is virtually stagnant and government's intervention is required to break the deadlock," he added.
Asked about receiving the notice, Prof Ashraful replied in the negative. He hinted that the teachers might not be present at the academic council meeting due to these reasons.