100 jobs on cards for JCD men at IU

The agitating JCD activists are demanding jobs at the university.

Activists of JCD and other student organisations including Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) are still in their dormitories as the authorities closed women students' hostels only after last weeks violence that forces the Vice Chancellor to leave the campus.

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Campus sources said the JCD activists are guarding different points on the campus, not to allow the VC and other top officials unless their appointments are promised.

There is none on the campus to exercise authority and take any decision as the vice-chancellor did not hand over charge to any body when he left the campus after Thursday's Syndicate meeting following the violence.

The JCD men also assaulted some teachers in the past few days.

The latest incident took place on Monday. According to sources, JCD men stopped a microbus carrying eight teachers from the campus when it reached the Customs crossing at about 10 at night. They included Islamic University Teachers Association (IUTA) President Prof Foyeez Mohammad Siraj and Transport Administrator Dr. Abdul Odud.

The sources said the JCD men were looking for Dr. Odud. They forced all in the vehicle to come out at gunpoint and abused them.

When contacted later, Dr. Odud admitted that he along with seven other teachers were abused by JCD activists.

The JCD activists are also threatening teachers and senior officials over cell phone, the sources said.

Whereabouts of VC Prof Rafiqul Islam could not be known since he left the campus on Thursday.

When this correspondent tried to contact his family in Rajshai over telephone. His family declined to say anything about the VC, citing 'security problem'.

Some reliable sources said the VC is now in Dhaka. He met with the education minister and discussed the university situation. He sought the minister's intervention to cool down the JCD activists agitating for 'jobs'.

The sources said the VC is now thinking to offer 100 jobs to JCD cadres on ad hoc basis.

Meanwhile Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit at IU yesterday staged a sit-in in front the of vice-chancellor's office. They demanded immediate resignation of the VC and cancellation of the "illegal mass appointments".

On the other hand, the newly appointed employees brought out a silent procession and held a rally on the campus demanding confirmation of their jobs.

A meeting on the university situation has held yesterday at Kushtia Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office with DC Jamal A Naesr Choudhury in the chair.

IU Treasurer Prof Anwarul Karim, Registrar Dr Moslem Uddin, ADC (general) MA Ahad and Police Superintendent Masud Ul Hasan attended the meeting but it could not take any decision.

Sources said the meeting was discussed over all law and order of the university.