RU officers, staff observing full-day strike over assault on teacher

Officers and staff at Rajshahi University (RU) are staging a full-day strike on Sunday to protest the assault on university teachers during a student demonstration. As part of the action, they held a sit-in on the lower floor in front of the Shaheed Buddhijibi Memorial.

The sit-in began at 10:00am, but no teachers were seen participating. The striking officers and staff demanded the immediate expulsion of those responsible for assaulting teachers and the assurance of institutional facilities.

Mukhtar Hossain, president of the university’s Officers’ Association, said, “Yesterday, a few individuals, posing as students, physically assaulted the Pro-Vice Chancellor and even prevented him from entering his residence. They must be identified and punished under university law.”

Masud Rana, treasurer of the Officers’ Association, added that students involved should have their enrollment canceled and outsiders should face legal action. “If punishment is not ensured, from tomorrow we will shut down all university operations,” he warned.

The assault took place on Saturday afternoon when the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) was blocked by students demanding the abolition of the quota system. After leaving the administrative building around 3:00pm, he attempted to walk to his residence, but students locked the gate, forcing him to head to the Juberi building with Proctor Mahbubur Rahman. Around 4:30pm, several teachers and officers, including the Pro-Vice Chancellor, were blocked inside the building by students.

Following the incident, Abdul Alim, president of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum, called for Sunday’s strike, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved. He confirmed that all university officers and staff would join the action.