Students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) at Gopalganj continued their hunger strike for eighth consecutive day on Thursday.
The sit-in hunger strike began on September 19, with students demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Khondoker Md Nasiruddin.
The protesting students on Thursday decided to send a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman, with their demand for the vice-chancellor's resignation.
They students started collecting everyone's signature on the letter since the morning.
Student of Public Administration Department, Rehnuma Tabassum Oishi, said: "As part of the protest activities, we had covered our eyes with black masks from 11am to 1pm. In the evening, we also lit candles in protest."
Third assistant proctor resigns
Another assistant proctor of BSMRSTU resigned last morning showing solidarity with students.
Assistant Proctor Dr Md Tariqul Islam, a teacher of Pharmacy department, submitted his resignation letter to the proctor around 12:00pm.
Earlier, Assistant Proctor Dr Md Nazmul Haque submitted his resignation letter to the proctor on Wednesday night citing personal reasons.
Previously, on September 21, Assistant Proctor Md Humayun Kabir, a teacher of sociology department, resigned protesting the attacks on students, allegedly by the supporters of the vice-chancellor outside the campus which left at least 20 injured.
UGC probe ends
The five-member probe committee, formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), led by committee convener Dr Md Alamgir, ended their investigation yesterday.
The committee talked with the protesters, and took their written statements in the morning.
BSMRSTU Registrar Prof Dr Md Nur Uddin Ahmed said, the committee met with the teachers, and collected their statements later in the day.
What caused the protests?
The students started their protests when the BSMRSTU authorities issued an order to suspend second-year law student Fatema-tuz-Zinia earlier this month, for her supposedly objectionable comments about BSMRSTU on Facebook on September 10.
However, the university lifted the suspension order on September 18, after the news went viral on social media, and sparked severe criticism about the university.
On September 20, authorities shut down the university until October 3. The university authorities also asked its students to vacate the halls.
On September 21, at least 20 students of BSMRSTU in Gopalganj were injured during attacks by the vice-chancellor’s supporters.
Ignited by the incident, the students strengthened their protest against the vice-chancellor, and demanded his resignation.
