Stalemate at PSTU

The newly appointed 11 teachers and officials could not join duty as local leaders of ruling BNP barred them from doing so, campus sources said.

Vice-chancellor Dr. A K M Abdul Hannan Bhuyan, not in Patuakhali now, has filed a GD (no. 178) with Dumki thana by post, alleging that he could not return due to lack of security, police sources said. Dumki thana recorded the GD on Monday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Academic and administrative activities were greatly hampered as local people, backed by political parties, are pressing for realisation of a four-point demand, which include resignation of the VC and cancellation of appointment of the 11 teachers and officials.

They alleged that the newly appointed teachers and officials were taken in as per the VC's choice. They are demanding that the posts be filled up by qualified persons from Patuakhali.

Sources said their agitation for realisation of the demands will continue.

Some students and PSTU officials alleged that there were irregularities also in admission of students. Those admitted after expiry of the admission date on January 28 were not on waiting lists.

Besides, the authorities admitted students in three departments in excess of seats.

One hundred and ten students were admitted against 100 seats in Agriculture Department, 43 against 30 in BBA and 35 against 30 in Computer Science department, they claimed.

There is a no teacher in BBA. The Computer Science Department has only one teacher.

Moreover, two-thirds posts of teacher are vacant for in the Agriculture Department.

The sources said the VC left the campus for Dhaka on January 26 after issuing a 14-day Edi vacation till February 8.

When contacted, Md. Sultan Ahmed, Dean of PSTU and a member of the admission committee, said he does not know anything in this connection.