Rajshahi MP 'threatens to get RU VC sacked'

Allegedly becoming irate on being asked to meet later, a Rajshahi lawmaker yesterday  barged into the Rajshahi University (RU) vice chancellor's (VC) office, forcing postponement of a meeting, thumped a table and shouted expletives, threatening to get the latter sacked.

"I require no permission to enter the Prime Minister's Office and you deny me from entering your office! ...Now Awami League is in power...I will see how you remain in the VC post," the office sources, requesting anonymity, quoted Omar Faruque Chowdhury as saying.

The Rajshahi-1 (Tanore, Godagari) lawmaker, also the district Awami League president, had first sought an audience over the phone around 1:00pm while VC Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin was holding the meeting, said the sources.

When the VC asked to meet him later, Omar initiated the abuses. Accompanied by three others, he barged inside 10 minutes later and left after threatening the VC, they added.

Pro-VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan and Rajshahi University Teachers Association General Secretary Prof Rezaul Karim Badal were present, said the sources.

Denying the allegations, Omar told The Daily Star that he had gone there and only talked about lessening a fine the RU authorities imposed on a private medical college.

Shah Makhdum Medical College, the managing committee chairman of which is Omar, was fined Tk 25 lakh two months ago for starting academic activities without RU's approval, said sources.

The VC said he would lodge a complaint with the chancellor.

Meanwhile, an RU chemistry professor allegedly assaulted the vice-principal of Rajshahi University School and College during an altercation over why the latter had rebuked his son, who was caught smoking on Friday, said sources.

Prof Newton hung up when The Daily Star phoned him seeking comments. Vice-Principal Shafiul Alam said he had filed a complaint with the VC, who said the allegation would be investigated.