A protest over the appointment of the new vice-chancellor of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) turned violent on Sunday, leaving several people injured in clashes between two groups.
The incident took place in front of the university’s main gate around 10am.
Police and local sources said Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) was appointed DUET vice-chancellor on Thursday.
Following the issuance of the appointment notification, students began demonstrations around 9:30pm that day, rejecting the appointment.
The protesting students said DUET is a specialised engineering university with academic and administrative realities different from those of other institutions.
They said the university’s own teachers have better experience of DUET’s academic system, students’ needs and administrative challenges.
In the interest of the university, they demanded that the vice-chancellor be appointed from among qualified and senior internal faculty members instead of bringing in someone from outside.
Teacher leaders at DUET have also demanded the appointment of a vice-chancellor from among senior faculty members of the university.
Police said students resumed their protest on campus around 8am on Sunday for the fourth consecutive day.
At one stage, after reports spread that the newly appointed vice-chancellor might take office, the students locked the university’s main gate.
The protesting students alleged that around noon, a group of outsiders supporting the new vice-chancellor entered the campus and took position there, triggering a clash with the general students.
The two sides hurled brickbats at each other, injuring several students.
A tense situation was prevailing in the university area till around 1:30pm, according to the latest reports.
Gazipur Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Aminul Islam said: “Tension had been prevailing among students for the past few days over the appointment of DUET’s vice-chancellor. Today, it turned into a clash. Police are working to maintain law and order.”
