The vice chancellor (VC) of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) has expressed sorrow over last month’s police attack on protesting students of the university.
VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed also termed the attack “uncalled for”, 28 days after the assault left dozens of students injured, said the university’s Registrar Ishfaqul Hussain on Saturday.
SUST VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed | Collected“My sincere sympathy and condolences to all who were injured in the unfortunate incident at our beloved university, including teachers, students, officials, and staff members,” Farid said.
The VC also thanked everyone for working to resolve the ongoing crisis at Sust, including Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, local Awami League leaders, and members of law enforcement agencies.
“I would also like to thank all the media personnel for their efforts in solving the problems of our university. If we all work together, I believe we can turn our beloved institution into a world-class university,” Farid added.
Meanwhile, Sust Treasurer Prof Anwarul Islam said: “Whether you (Farid) instructed the police action on the students or not, fixing it falls on your shoulders as the university's head. If I were you, I would have felt sorry too.”
Earlier, on Friday, the education minister met the VC and other administrative officials of Sust. Dipu Moni advised Farid to issue a statement apologizing for the police attack on January 16.
On January 13, students of Sust started a protest demanding the removal of the provost of a dorm for female students.
Some Chhatra League activists attacked the demonstrators on January 15, adding fuel to the protest.
The protesting students confined VC Farid to the IICT Building of the university the next day.
Police then charged batons, fired bullets, tear shells and sound grenades at the students, injuring more than 50 of them in the operation to rescue the VC.
That night, the university administration closed the campus and dorms indefinitely.
Since then, students have been holding protests, demanding removal of the VC.
Twenty-eight protesters had also gone on a hunger strike to press home that demand. They broke their fast after former Sust teacher Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal on January 26 assured them that their demands would be met soon.
