Teachers observe work abstention

A section of Jahangirnagar University (JU) teachers yesterday observed work abstention for three hours, protesting alleged corruption of the authorities and unplanned development work on campus.

Around 50 teachers under the banner of “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption” gathered on campus around 11:30am and brought out a procession.

It started from Arts Faculty building and ended on the premises of the old administrative building where they held a rally.

Speakers at the rally demanded relocating the three male students’ dormitories -- which are planned to be constructed near Rabindranath Hall, and a judicial inquiry into corruption and tender snatching.

At the rally, Prof Anu Muhammad of Economics department said, “A big budget project also creates a scope for big problems.”

Hence, this mega project has created the possibility of prosperity, but it has also become a matter of concern, he added.

“If the alleged irregularities are left unsolved, this project will be a disaster for the university,” commented Anu Muhammad. He urged university chancellor President Abdul Hamid, University Grants Commission, and education ministry to take initiatives to resolve the crisis. 

Over a hundred students brought out another procession that started from the social science faculty and ended at the administrative building, where teachers were already staging a rally in the  afternoon.

The students also expressed solidarity with the teachers’ programme.

Before starting the procession, they staged a street drama ‘Ekti Non-Fiction’ by Jahangirnagar Theatre around 12:30pm.

“We will continue our protest until our demands are met. Different cultural programmes will be held in the spirit of the protest,” said Ashikur Rahman, one of the spokespersons of the movement.

Agitated students of JU have been demonstrating on campus since August 23.

Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s JU unit staged a demonstration on campus protesting the administration’s decision to file a written compliant against Abhishekh, organising secretary of JU BCL, who allegedly assaulted one of the protesters.     

They (BCL) brought out a protest procession that started from transport area and ended at JU central Sheheed Minar.