A tense situation has arisen at Rajshahi University (RU) over the dependent quota issue. The incident occurred on the balcony of the university’s Zuberi Building at 4pm on Saturday.
Earlier, at noon, students locked the residences of the two pro-VCs. Unable to enter their homes, VC Professor Dr Main Uddin and Proctor Professor Dr Mahbubur Rahman turned back. At one point, as they headed towards the Zuberi Building, students followed them, chanting slogans.
When they arrived at the balcony of the Zuberi Building, a university teacher and an official from the printing press attempted to block the students, leading to a physical altercation. At this time, students surrounded and confined Vice-Chancellor Professor Main Uddin Khan.
Later, during the scuffle, the vice-chancellor moved to the second floor of the Zuberi Building, where students confined him to the veranda. Meanwhile, several teachers, including Professor Kamal Uddin from the Department of Persian Language and Literature and Registrar Professor Iftikharul Alam Masud, arrived at the scene.
Regarding this, former coordinator Salauddin Ammar said, “We strongly condemn the stance the administration has taken on a resolved issue. We have been on a peaceful hunger strike since yesterday, but the administration has not taken any acceptable steps. The planned attack on us today is completely unacceptable. I call on all students to join peacefully – we will not leave the grounds until our demands are met.”
Secretary of the RU branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir Mujahid Faisal said, “The RUCSU election is just four days away. But we see that an attempt is being made to sabotage the election by reviving a settled issue – the dependent quota. As part of this, an unwanted clash between students and teachers occurred today.”
He added, “Today, students from all parties and beliefs have joined the movement. We have one goal – this irrational dependent quota must not be reinstated. The university’s admission and academic activities have already been successfully conducted without this quota. However, the attempt to reintroduce this irrational quota just before the RUCSU election is clearly aimed at disrupting the election.”
He further stated, “Islami Chhatra Shibir stands in solidarity with this movement. The movement will continue until this irrational dependent quota issue is resolved.”
Regarding the movement, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Main Uddin said, “The dependent quota issue is not my decision alone; it must be decided through discussions with the entire administration. But I have never seen a movement where I am not allowed to go home or eat. What kind of movement is this?”
