Silent procession, mass signature campaign at Buet

Submitted by Lutphea.tory on Sat, 14/07/2012 - 12:39pm

Hundreds of teachers, students and staff of Buet initiated a silent procession and mass signature campaign on their campus on Saturday demanding resignation of vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor.

The agitators have been continuing their sit-in since Wednesday to press home their 16-point demand that include resignation of the two top administration bosses of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

The sit-in programme has entered into 4th consecutive day on Monday as the VC and pro-VC have refused to step down.

The movement spearheaded by the Buet Teachers' Association began when the authorities declared a 44-day vacation Tuesday night in the face of the teachers' ultimatum demanding their resignation.

It gained momentum when a large number of students joined them. The Buet Alumni Association also expressed solidarity with the agitation programme.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam and Buet Syndicate members to find a solution through talks with agitating teachers to bring an end to the ongoing impasse on the campus.

Asked whether the PM had told Prof Nazrul Islam to resign, the VC replied in the negative.

One of the syndicate members, however, quoted the PM as saying she would take the next step after discussions with the education minister.

The Buet crisis has deepened with the vice-chancellor and his deputy unwilling to step down while teachers, students and staff remain firm in their agitation for their removal.

Reiterating at a press briefing that “The door was closed for talks,” Buet Teachers' Association General Secretary Dr Md Ashraful Islam on Thursday said they will continue their agitation until the two top officials resign.

The mass resignation by the heads of all faculties, institutes and departments at Buet added a new dimension to the movement.

Terming the resignation ‘a farce’, the Vice-Chancellor on Thursday said he would not bow down to such an “unethical demand” as there was no allegation of irregularities against him.