Deans from six faculties of Rajshahi University (RU) have stepped down from their positions following a day-long protest against the extension of their tenure.
A university source confirmed the information to TIMES of Bangladesh.
The teachers Abu Naser Md Wahid, dean of the Faculty of Law; Professor Nasima Akhter, dean of the Faculty of Science; Professor ASM Kamruzzaman, dean of the Faculty of Business Studies; Professor Bimal Kumar Pramanik of the Faculty of Engineering; Professor SM Ekram Ullah of the Faculty of Social Sciences; and Professor AHM Selim Reza of the Faculty of Geosciences.
The terms of these deans, who were appointed during the Awami League’s tenure, expired on Wednesday (17 December).
When the administration decided to extend their tenure, a faction of Rucsu (Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union) leaders launched protests, alleging that the deans were “pro–Awami League”.
On Sunday morning, Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar along with several others visited the deans’ offices and the rooms of some pro–Awami League teachers, though they did not find any of them present.
Later, the protesting students padlocked offices of the deans of Arts, Social Sciences, and Law faculties. They also locked the offices of vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, proctor, registrar, and other administrative departments.
In a Facebook post in the afternoon, Ammar wrote, “Almost all offices of the pro–Awami League administrators are locked today. I also want them to remain locked until justice is served.”
He further said that a list was being prepared of teachers who had sided against students during the July uprising.
The students sat in a meeting with the university administration at the administrative building in the afternoon. In the evening, another meeting was held at the VC’s residence with the deans, where they announced their resignations.
