A teacher at Chittagong University (CU) has allegedly been pressured into writing his resignation after being blocked by students for nearly two hours.
The incident took place at around 10:30am on Wednesday in the office of the chairman of the university’s History Department.
Rontu Dash, an assistant professor in the History Department, previously served as an assistant proctor at the university.
According to university sources, Rontu Dash arrived at the department in the morning, where a group of students confronted him, escorting him to the History Department chairperson's office.
There, they allegedly pressured him to resign from his teaching post.
Succumbing to the pressure, Dash wrote and signed a resignation letter.
The situation was later brought under control by the university’s proctor.
Chittagong University Proctor Prof Tanvir Haider Arif confirmed the incident, saying: "A group of students demanded the resignation of a teacher in the History Department chairman's office. Upon receiving the information, we rushed to the scene. The students presented two pieces of news, indicating that the teacher was the prime accused in a case, had been arrested, and had served time in jail. Based on this, they were demanding his resignation. By the time we arrived, the teacher had already written and signed a resignation letter, which was placed on the table."
Proctor further said: "After speaking with the students, we were able to diffuse the situation. I explained that a teacher’s resignation cannot be forced, and the students eventually left the department at our request."
Repeated attempts to reach Rontu Dash and History Department Chairperson Prof Dr Shamima Haider on the phone for comments but they did not respond.
