A faction of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology teachers yesterday brought accusations of non-compliance with the Education Ministry’s directives against another faction of teachers which has been calling for the vice-chancellor’s resignation.
The convener of Mohan Muktijuddher Chetona O Muktochintai Oikkoboddho Shikkhokbrindo Forum, Dr Md Akhtarul Islam, told a press briefing that all teachers excluding those belonging to Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonai Udbuddho Shikkhok Forum had welcomed the Education Ministry’s directives.
“How the teachers who have been protesting for months against the vice-chancellor can defy the ministry’s orders if they claim that they are in favour of the government?” he raised the question at the briefing arranged at the Department of Mathematics.
Professor Akhtarul said protests against the vice-chancellor were unwanted and that Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonai Udbuddho Shikkhok Forum had paid no heed to the orders given during the emergency meeting of the teachers’ association.
The educator claimed that media reports did not truly portray the August 30 assaults on teachers. “A fair probe into what happened on August 30 is needed.”
He also remarked that personal disputes had triggered protests against the vice-chancellor.
The professor called on the protesting teachers to unite under a common platform and said coordination among all was needed to turn the university into one of the top educational institutions of the country.
But Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonai Udbuddho Shikkhok Forum convener Dr Syed Shamsul Alam said only the vice-chancellor’s resignation would break the ongoing deadlock.
He said the campus would become stable if the vice-chancellor stepped down.
Mohan Muktijuddher Chetona O Muktochintai Oikkoboddho Shikkhokbrindo Forum members also formed a human chain in front of the university’s central library to protest against what they called a conspiracy to create unrest on the campus.
More than a hundred teachers joined the protest.
Professor Dr Kabir Hossain, president of the teachers’ association, told the human chain that demanding the vice-chancellor’s resignation over a trifling matter made little sense.
He also said the protesting teachers had acted in defiance of the ministry’s directives. “I will assist you if you [protesting teachers] want to occupy the vice-chancellor’s post.”
Dr Kabir urged Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonai Udbuddho Shikkhok Forum not to aggravate the situation in view of the upcoming undergraduate admission tests.
Meanwhile, Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonai Udbuddho Shikkhok Forum yesterday refrained from protests at the death of Shahriar Mazumder, a Gonojagoron Moncho activist and student of architecture at the university.
Members of the forum held a rally to mourn Shahriar’s death.
They said the sit-in outside the vice-chancellor’s office would resume today.