Two groups of pro-AL teachers scuffle in JU

Two factions of pro-Awami League teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) had a scuffle. The incident occurred between followers of Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam and former vice-chancellor Sharif Enamul Kabir near the Bishmail vehicle depot at around 4:45am Tuesday. Eyewitnesses said Enamul’s followers took up positions in front of the vehicle depot and locked it as a part of the protests they announced after declaring that Farzana Islam had breached University Act-1973 as well as statutes of syndicate management. When Farzana’s followers reached the location, they requested that the lock be opened. Upon refusal, the two groups exchanged heated words before a scuffle ensued. As of the filing of this report, 20-25 teachers aligned with Enamul were continuing protests in front of the old administrative building of the university. Former president of the Teachers’ Association, Farid Ahmad, said: “We were carrying out peaceful protests when 20-25 teachers aligned with the VC attacked six teachers who are siding with us.” However, recently instated Provost of Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall Md Abdullah Hell Kafi said: “When we asked them to open the doors to the vehicle depot, they attacked two teachers on our side. Afterwards, we managed to defuse the situation.” University Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam said: “Tuesday’s incident deserves an investigation. I want to ask everyone to coexist peacefully.” A rift began to form between two groups of pro-Awami League teachers since February 15, when Farzana Islam was reinstated as University VC, with teachers aligned with Enamul on the other side. After Farzana became VC, the Deans and Proctorial bodies of two faculties were changed, along with the Provosts of nine residential halls. Deeming such acts to be baseless and contrary to the tenets of the university act, Sharif Enamul Kabir and his cohorts called for protests on Tuesday.