JCD members unlock admin building to free JU VC, pro-VCs

Leaders and activists of the Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) broke the lock on the main gate of the university’s administrative building and freed Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Nurul Islam and the pro-vice-chancellors on Tuesday evening.

The operation was led by JCD JU unit Convener Jahiruddin Mohammad Babor, Member Secretary Wasim Ahmed Anik and other senior joint conveners.

The incident took place around 5:45pm on Tuesday. Earlier, around 5pm, students of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture locked the main gate of the university’s new administrative building while a special Syndicate meeting was underway.

Explaining their demands, Mohammad Shahriar, a student of the institute’s 53rd batch, said the university had appointed a professor from the Department of Philosophy as the institute’s director, while they wanted someone from their own institute to be given the responsibility.

He said Associate Professor Hamim Kamrul Haque would be their preferred choice, adding that if he was not appointed, they would accept Professor Dr Aniruddha Kahali of the Department of Bangla, who is involved in the institute’s academic activities.

Shahriar alleged that the administration was depriving Haque of his rightful position by labelling him an Awami League-backed teacher.

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“We do not want anyone from the Department of Philosophy,” he said.

The students submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor earlier in the day, outlining their demands.

Meanwhile, JCD leaders who moved to break the lock alleged that Associate Professor Hamim Kamrul Haque was involved in the politics of the “fascist” Awami League.

They also accused him of taking a stance against students during the July uprising and maintaining contact with fugitive Awami League leaders to destabilise the campus.

The JCD leaders said the administration’s decision on the appointment should be final and accused the protesting students of attempting to create disorder on campus.

After being freed, the vice-chancellor addressed the protesting students, saying he had assumed office only a few days ago and was willing to hear the concerns of any student or teacher.

“Anyone can come and discuss their problems with me. If I refuse to listen, they can then react,” he said.

He added that five to seven students from the institute had already met him to discuss the issue, but some of them later locked the building’s gate, disrupting university activities.

“Those who locked me in today, what do they want from the university? What is this group seeking?” he asked.