BAU teachers to go on fresh agitation as ultimatum ends

The leaders of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Teachers Association will organise an agitation programme on the campus today as their ultimatum for the resignation of the vice chancellor expired at 5:00pm yesterday.

A faction of pro-Awami League teachers under the banner of Ganotantrik Shikkhak Forum started agitation on March 19, demanding resignation of BAU Vice Chancellor Prof Md Rafiqul Hoque for his alleged irregularities and corruption in recent job recruitment and 'immoral acts'.

Meanwhile, 59 teachers of BAU resigned from the administrative posts to press their one-point demand for resignation of the vice chancellor.

On March 24, 53 teachers of the university resigned from the administrative posts that include assistant proctors, hall provosts, house tutors and directors of different institutions.

Six more teachers including BAU proctor Prof Harun-or-Rashid and its students' affairs adviser Prof Johirul Haque Khandaker resigned from administrative posts of BAU on Sunday, said Additional Registrar Md Sarwar Jahan.

At an emergency meeting of BAU Teachers Association held on the campus on Sunday, the teachers issued an ultimatum demanding resignation of the vice-chancellor by 5:00pm yesterday.

"As our ultimatum went unheeded, we will form a human chain on the campus and hold a meeting tomorrow [Tuesday] to finalise our next steps. We may go for tougher actions including resignation of deans and heads of different faculties and departments of the university," said association president Prof Khandaker Shariful Islam.

The association leaders also sought immediate intervention by the authorities concerned to resolve the issue.

Terming the allegations brought against him as 'false and fabricated', the BAU vice chancellor said the movement by a section of 'motivated' teachers is very unfortunate for a renowned university.