A physical altercation broke out at Sylhet Agricultural University on Sunday between Vice-Chancellor Alimul Islam and a faction of teachers over alleged administrative irregularities and recent appointments.
The incident occurred around 1pm on the campus and left individuals from both sides injured, triggering tension among teachers, officers and staff.
Some teachers described the assault on a colleague as a direct blow to freedom of expression.
Campus sources said a group of teachers had been raising concerns since the current vice-chancellor assumed office over the recruitment of what they termed unqualified candidates, denial of promotions and administrative autocracy.
Sylhet Agricultural University Professor of Agronomy and Haor Agriculture Mozammel Huq said he and several colleagues went to the vice-chancellor’s office to discuss the issues.
“I was attacked by followers of the vice-chancellor and the Proctor,” he said, alleging that he sustained injuries to his nose and mouth.
Vice-Chancellor Alimul Islam rejected the allegations and said a specific group seeking to regain influential administrative posts such as Proctor or Registrar was deliberately creating unrest.
“The confrontation escalated after an official was labelled a fascist during the discussion,” he said. “My fingers were injured during a struggle over a mobile phone that was being used to record the incident. Three other teachers from our side were also hurt.”
Addressing allegations over the recruitment of six teachers, the vice-chancellor said the appointments followed University Grants Commission guidelines and were made through proper examinations.
He said three of the newly appointed teachers were graduates of the university, while the remaining three were recruited from outside as local specialists in those fields were not available.
As of Sunday afternoon, a group of teachers was preparing to hold an emergency meeting to decide their next course of action.
