Amid continuous student protests, Barisal University (BU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sucharita Sharmin, along with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Golam Rabbani and Treasurer Mamunur Rashid, has been removed from her post.
The Ministry of Education confirmed the decision through separate letters signed by ASM Kashem, senior assistant secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, with the announcements made public late on Tuesday night.
In a separate directive, Prof Dr Taufiq Alam of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Rajshahi University (RU) has been appointed as the interim vice-chancellor of BU.
According to the official notice available on the Education Ministry’s website, the removal was approved by the president, following Section 10(2) of the University Act and relevant appointment regulations under the Secondary and Higher Education Division.
The university’s registrar’s office confirmed that the former top officials have been allowed to return to their previous academic posts.
Dr Sucharita Sharmin of the Development Studies Department at the University of Dhaka (DU) was appointed BU's VC on September 23 last year.
Prof Golam Rabbani, from the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at DU, was made BU's Pro-VC on October 31.
Mamunur Rashid, former chairman of the Department of Basic Sciences, Animal Science, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), was appointed treasurer on December 19.
The removals follow 29 days of sustained student protests demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellor.
Over the last 48 hours, students staged road blockades and hunger strikes.
In solidarity, 11 faculty members also resigned from their administrative posts.
