RU students demand removal of pro-VC

Students of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday demanded removal of Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Choudhury Zakaria, after an audio clip of a conversation surfaced, where he was allegedly found involved in “fixing money” to recruit a teacher.

At least five spokespersons from three student organisations -- Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Rucsu Andolon Mancha and Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad -- met VC Prof Abdus Sobhan around 2pm and placed their demand.  

Abdul Mazid Antor of Rucsu Andolon Mancha said, “We demanded immediate removal of the pro-VC. But the VC assured us that they will form a probe committee soon to investigate the allegations.”

VC Prof Abdus Sobhan could not be contacted over phone despite repeated attempts. 

On Monday night, an audio clip of a conversation between Prof Zakaria and wife of Nurul Huda -- a job seeker -- surfaced on social media. In the conversation, Prof Zakaria is heard introducing himself as the pro-vice chancellor of RU, and saying, “Please tell me; I am interested to know how much money are you ready to pay? Please tell the truth...”   

In reply, the woman says, “... Sir, honestly speaking. You know his (the candidate’s) condition. Another thing, he is a person of strict principles…”

Zakaria ends the conversation saying, “Drop the matter, we cannot discuss it here.”

In a written statement, Prof Zakaria acknowledged that he had the conversation. “I made the call to verify an information that the job seeker was involved with some people to get the job through illegal dealing,” Zakaria said.

Contacted, the job seeker in question, Nurul Huda, declined to make any comment.

Huda, an alumni of the university’s law department from the 2010-11 session, had earned the top result form the department and achieved the prime minister’s gold medal in 2018 for outstanding result.

He applied for the lecturer post during the phase of recruitment in November last year, but was not selected.

His wife -- the one who spoke to the pro-VC on the phone, is a current student of RU.