Ruta chief now protests media reports about him

Protesting media reports on his comments, Rajshahi University Teachers Association (Ruta) President Prof Ananda Kumar Saha yesterday termed Awami League leader Dablu Sarker's virulent behaviour at the vice-chancellor's office "discourteous", a day after he had called it a "simple altercation" and the news reports about the incident "false and fabricated", at a human chain. 
Meanwhile, several hundred teachers and students continued agitation on the campus for the fifth day yesterday, demanding punishment for Awami League lawmaker Omar Faruque Chowdhury and the party's city unit General Secretary Dablu Sarker for misbehaving with the RU VC and its teachers on April 15 and 16.
RU's sociology department will boycott classes today and tomorrow, protesting the incidents. VC Dr Muhammad Mizanuddin is a professor of the department. 
Ruta President Ananda Kumar issued his personal statement on Ruta's official letterhead protesting the media reports. He claimed that online newspapers' reports on manhandling the VC were not correct. Prof Ananda said the behaviour of the AL leader with the VC and other teachers was discourteous and he stated this repeatedly and in the banner of Ruta. 
Around 50 journalists, including The Daily Star's university correspondent, who were covering Monday's human chain, had instantly protested the remarks of Prof Ananda who termed the media reports "false and fabricated."
Most teachers at the human chain also protested his comment and demanded immediate withdrawal of it. Many teachers also called Prof Ananda a "lackey". 
Earlier, several teachers told The Daily Star that they suspected that Prof Ananda had been conspiring with the AL men and trying to gain blessings from the ruling party to be appointed VC of the university. He denied the allegation.
Some senior teachers, seeking anonymity, yesterday told The Daily Star that Prof Ananda should resign from his post for such "irresponsible" behaviour.
However, the Ruta president joined a protest rally of Rajshahi University Kendrio Sangskritik Jote against the virulent behaviour of the AL lawmaker and the leader. 
More than 1,000 teachers, students and staff formed a human chain before the senate building around 11:00am, demanding punitive action against the AL MP and the party leaders who threatened the VC and manhandled some teachers at the VC's office.
They also demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits who molested some 20 females on Dhaka University campus on Pahela Baishakh.
Over 300 teachers and students of sociology joined another human chain in front of Mamtaj Uddin Arts Building, demanding immediate arrest of the ruling party leaders.
They also declared the duo persona non grata on the campus.