Six RU deans resign amid protests

Six deans of Rajshahi University have resigned following a day-long protest that included padlocking offices and confining the registrar.

The information was confirmed on Sunday night, December 21, by university registrar Professor Iftikharul Alam Masud while speaking to journalists.

The deans are--Abu Naser Md. Wahid of the Faculty of Law, Professor Nasima Akhtar of the Faculty of Science, Professor ASM Kamruzzaman of the Faculty of Business Education, Professor SM Ekram Ullah of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Bimal Kumar Pramanik of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor AHM Selim Reza of the Faculty of Earth Sciences.

In this regard, Professor Akhtar Hossain Majumder, administrator of the university's public relations department, said at night: "We have discussed with the students and the deans. The deans have expressed their inability to fulfill their duties."

However, claiming to be unaware of the movement, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor SM Ekram Ullah, said: "I do not know what happened today. However, we have informed that we are not willing to fulfill our duties."

The vice-chancellor will serve the duty until a new dean is elected.

Meanwhile, this morning, some students including RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar went to the chambers of the deans and some pro-Awami teachers. However, none of them were present at the time.

In the afternoon, they locked the offices of the deans of the faculties of arts, social sciences and law of the university. Later, the offices of all departments including the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, proctor, and registrar were locked.

In this regard, Salahuddin Ammar wrote in a Facebook post around 3:30 pm: “Today, the offices of pro-Awami in almost all departments are locked. I also want the same thing, that they remain locked until the trial. Along with this, I have made a list of teachers who stood against the students at various times in July.

“I am also kindly seeking the lists of such teachers held by the Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir and other organizations. I will collect them from you in the next three days as many may be left out of my list.”

At this time, the protesters decided to protest until the deans resigned.

Later in the afternoon, the students met with the authorities in the Vice-Chancellor's conference room in the administration building and another meeting was held at night. At this time, the deans announced their resignation.

The university authorities said that on December 17, 2023, elections were held for the Teachers' Association, Dean, Syndicate, Planning and Development Committee, and Education Council. Out of these, six candidates from the pro-Awami Yellow Panel were elected in the dean elections of 12 faculties. Their term was until December 17.

But on December 11, the Vice-Chancellor ordered these deans to remain in their positions until the elections are held according to the university's law.