Rajshahi University students demand pro-VC’s resignation over irregularities

Students and teachers of Rajshahi University demanded pro-vice chancellor's resignation accusing him of committing irregularities in teachers' recruitment.

The students staged a demonstration at about 11:00am on the campus and formed a human chain in front of the central library protesting the incident of irregularities over recruitment of a teacher of law department. They also demanded removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan for chanting "Jai Hind" at a university programme recently.

A section of teachers also formed a human chain on the campus protesting the incident. They alleged that anti-liberation elements and corrupt people are active in the current university administration.

Professor Dr Farid Khan of economics department also staged a barefoot protest with a placard inscribing: "Want corruption free educational institution and want to live with dignity as a teacher" at Zoha Chattar on the campus at 10:00am.

According to the university sources, an audio clip of a telephone conversation between Pro-vice Chancellor Chowdhury Mohammad Zakaria and Sadia, wife of Nurul Huda, a teacher candidate for law department, surfaced over recruitment of Nurul Huda in exchange of money.  

Nurul Huda is a talented student of law department of the university and was awarded gold medals for his outstanding academic performance, said the sources.   

Dulal Chandra Biswas, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism, said the recent audio clip is nothing but a part of "recruitment business" that is continuing at the university.

As anti-corruption drives are being conducted across the country as per directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, I think it is our responsibility to join the drive from teachers' side, he said.  

"We have to remove corrupt teachers from the university," he said.  

Safiqunnabi Samadi, a teacher of Bangla department, said the recruitment of son-in-law of VC is known to all; candidate of a private university also got priority in the recruitment process.

"We do not want the university to turn into a hotbed of corruption and nepotism. We want removal of the administrative team as it is totally corrupt", he said.

Brushing aside the allegation, Professor Zakaria said the audio clip that went viral was edited and fabricated. He as a local guardian talked to the wife of Nurul Huda as he came to know that Nurul had engaged in financial transaction with some miscreants.

On the other hand, different student alliances demanded an unconditional apology from the university's VC Abdus Sobhan for chanting "Jai Hind" at a university programme recently.

Condemning the VC's controversial remark, the students demanded immediate apology to the nation.

Otherwise, the students threatened to wage wider movement against the vice-chancellor if their demand is not met.

RU Vice-Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan has concluded his speech with the catchphrase "Jai Hind" at a programme held at the Senate Bhaban of the university on September 26. He pitched the slogan following the utterance of Jai Bangla, Jai Bangabandhu.

Rashedul Islam Mubin, joint convener of Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council, said, "We condemned the incident over the recruitment business."

Mentioning the pro-VC's comment over the incident, he said the pro-VC has to prove that the audio record was edited. Otherwise, he should resign from his post, Rashedul added.