Teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) under the banner of ‘Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbhuddo Sikkhak Forum’ will observe work abstention on Sunday, demanding removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Aminul Haque Bhuiyan.
The forum's convener Prof Syed Shamsul Alam announced the programme after the completion of token hunger strike on Thursday afternoon.
The protesting teachers broke their hunger strike by drinking juice offered by noted educationist and secular writer Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and SUST Treasurer Prof Ilias Uddin Biswash.
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"The vice chancellor launched attack on teacher by his criminal group. We will continue our movement until he resigns," Shamsul Alam said.
He said they would declare tougher programme if the vice chancellor does not resign by Sunday.
He, however, said all examinations of the university will remain out of the purview of Sunday's work abstention.
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On August 30, activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League assaulted a group of Shahjalal University teachers who were protesting the vice-chancellor’s corruption and irregularities.
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Hundreds of people came down hard on the ruling party’s student body as soon as the news and photographs of the attack and Prof Zafar Iqbal’s protest came up in social and online media.
Following the incident, three leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Shahjalal University of Science and Technology unit were suspended temporarily for their alleged involvement in the attacks.
The forum – comprising mostly secular and leftist teachers – began protests on April 13, demanding the VC’s resignation. A week later, 35 teachers, including Prof Zafar Iqbal, resigned simultaneously from the administrative posts they had been working in addition to their teaching duties.
After a period of relative calm in May when the VC was on leave, the Forum of Teachers Inspired by the Spirit of Liberation War resumed protests in June.
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On June 22, the protesters kept the VC locked and confined in his office for a brief period. On June 25, they published what they called was a white paper of his corruptions.
The VC, who is said to have strong ties with the Awami League government, snuffed out the allegations. “I have come here upon the government’s orders and would only go after completing my four-year tenure,” he said after publication of the white paper.
Prof Aminul was appointed VC of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in July 2013. Before that, he was a teacher of food and nutrition science at Dhaka University.