Students and teachers of Jagannath University (JnU) took to the streets on Tuesday evening, demanding the appointment of an internal candidate as the university's next vice-chancellor.
The procession, which began at Shaheed Minar and ended at the Sculpture Complex, passed through the Arts Building and the Science Faculty, drawing significant participation from faculty members and students.
The protesters chanted various slogans emphasizing their demand for a vice-chancellor who is a current member of the Jagannath University faculty.
They asserted that appointing an internal candidate would ensure better support for students and a stronger alignment with the university's unique culture and needs.
The protesters warned of severe actions, including locking the main gate of the university, if an external candidate is appointed.
Riazul Islam, a student from the Law Department, criticized the recurrent marginalization of qualified internal faculty and called for all top administrative positions to be filled by JnU teachers.
“We don’t want a VC on rent,” he declared, echoing the sentiment of many who believe that leadership should come from within the institution.
Masud Rana, a student of the Physics Department, expressed a willingness to take drastic measures said: “If blood is needed to recruit a VC from this university, blood will be given. I won’t leave the field.”
He underscored the urgency of resolving ongoing problems within the university through internal leadership.
Asaduzzaman Sadi, associate professor of the Law Department, criticized the university’s long-standing administration, likening it to the rule of the East India Company.
He called for a shift away from external control and emphasized the need for development driven by internal stakeholders.
Associate Professor Belal Hossain from the Department of History lamented the lack of structural development over the past two decades, attributing it to a leadership crisis and external administration.
He highlighted the large student population at JnU and called for internal leadership to address the university’s needs effectively.
Mohammad Tajammul Haque, professor in the Department of Islamic Studies, added that the university gate would be locked if an internal candidate is not appointed as the vice-chancellor.
He emphasized that JnU should not be treated as a subsidiary of any other institution and advocated for internal faculty who are well-qualified to lead the university.
