The Rajshahi University (RU) administration has relieved Professor Mahbubor Rahman, provost of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, following allegations of deleting CCTV footage related to an attack on journalists on campus.
A five-member investigation committee formed over the incident has been instructed to submit its report within three working days.
RU Vice-chancellor Faridul Islam announced the decision around 1:30am after discussions with protesting journalists and students.
On Monday evening, the university administration formed the five-member probe committee headed by Md Rezaul Karim, a teacher of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The other four members are Md Ariful Islam of the Department of Philosophy, M Asadul Hoque of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Md Anisur Rahman of the Department of Zoology, and Kazi Mamun Haider of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism.
During the talks with the protesting journalists and students, VC Faridul said punishment would be ensured in accordance with university rules based on the committee’s findings, after which a Syndicate meeting would be convened to take appropriate measures through proper procedures.
He urged the demonstrators to have faith in the decisions taken by the administration.
The VC added that those identified as guilty in the investigation would face suspension. He assured the protesters that action would also be taken against those who incited and provoked the incident.
Campus journalists and students staged a sit-in in front of the Administration Building around 7pm on Monday. They were protesting against the university administration filing a case over the attack without naming any individuals, instead accusing unidentified persons.
At one point, the demonstrators locked the Administration Building and continued their protest, confining Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam and other senior administrative officials inside.
During the demonstration, the protesters presented a six-point list of demands, which included filing a case naming those involved and arresting them; completing the investigation within three days and convening an emergency Syndicate meeting by Friday to expel the culprits; cancelling the certificates of non-students involved and banning their entry to the campus; relieving the provost of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall and taking legal action against him for allegedly deleting CCTV footage of the attack; and securing the resignation of the proctor and assistant proctors for remaining inactive during the incident.
After the meeting, Mir Kadir, president of the Rajshahi University Journalists’ Association, said the administration had immediately met one of their six demands and requested three days to implement the remaining five.
He also said the journalists had granted the administration three days to fulfil the remaining demands. During this period, journalists would not cover any news related to Rajshahi University.
He warned that if the demands were not implemented within the stipulated timeframe, the journalists would announce their next programme.
