One-demand movement announced against BU VC

The long-standing tension over promotions has now turned into an extreme crisis at Barisal University. The teachers have gone on a shutdown by suspending classes, examinations and administrative activities. The situation has reached such a point that now they are not just demanding promotions but also demanding the removal of the VC.

The protesting teachers allege that although about 60 teachers have been waiting for promotions for a long time, the current VC Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam is delaying in implementing it. On the other hand, the VC says that promotions will be made only according to the uniform policies of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The teachers say that promotions should be made following the university's own policies. The campus has practically come to a standstill due to the intransigence of both parties on this issue.

Protesting teacher leader and associate professor Md. Qayum Uddin alleged that the VC has only wasted time despite holding more than fifty meetings in the last six months.

He said, we have decided in the general meeting - even if there is no promotion, it will work, but we want a qualified new vice-chancellor quickly.

He also said that the recommendation for the promotion of 60 teachers was completed in October-November 2024. However, the letter of the UGC's uniform policy came on January 1 of this year. Therefore, there is no opportunity to show the new policy as an obstacle now.

According to the university's manpower structure, only 11 out of 49 professor posts have UGC approval. However, 24 teachers are hoping for promotion to the professor post.

In addition, there are 79 people currently working against 73 associate professor posts. There is also a structural crisis in the assistant professor post. As a result, those concerned believe that giving a large number of promotions at once may upset the administrative balance.

According to university sources, in many departments, even though there is only one professor post, multiple teachers are demanding promotion. In this situation, the agitators have also raised the demand for the creation of new posts by upgrading.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam told the media, "My word is clear - the promotion of teachers must be according to the UGC policies. I will not go beyond the law."

He said that several alternative proposals have been put before the teachers to resolve the crisis. However, it is the teachers' decision whether to accept them or not.

So far, six vice-chancellors have served at Barisal University, which was established in 2011. Two of them were forced to resign before the end of their term in the face of protests.

After the political change in 2024, there was a demand for the removal of the then vice-chancellor Dr. Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, calling him an 'ally of the Awami League'. Later, Dr. Shuchita Sharmin, who took office, also stepped down after eight months in the face of similar protests.

The current vice-chancellor Dr. Toufiq Alam is also facing similar pressure after a year in office.

Meanwhile, one after another exams are being canceled due to the ongoing shutdown. According to the university's examination office, many exams have been postponed since the last week of April.

Mehrab Hossain, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, "I have completed my honors. I will take admission in my masters. But everything is stuck due to the movement."

On the other hand, students of the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine protested demanding the resumption of defense activities. They locked the main gate of the academic building.