Concern at Ctg vet university situation

22 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Agitating Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and General Students' Forum and Teachers' Association of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) on Monday held separate press conferences on the present campus situation involving the vice-chancellor of the university. The association leaders at the conference at Chittagong Press Club (CPC) at around 4:30pm expressed deep concern and resentment over round-the-clock sit-in programme by students at the entrance to the residential area of teachers, officials and employees of the university. They alleged that a few number of students under the banner of BCL and general students' enforced indefinite agitation programme from December 13 to create chaos on the campus and apart from keeping the vice-chancellor (VC) confined to his residence they were harassing the other teachers and officials in different ways. The teachers also alleged that the agitating students took away the keys of the gates of all buildings of the university leaving its properties unsafe. They urged the ministers concerned, local lawmakers and Chittagong city mayor to help resume the academic activities of the university. Teachers' Association Convener Prof Goutam Das read out the written statement at the conference where other leaders were also present. At one stage of the conference, Basic and Social Science Faculty Head Prof Shahnaj Sultana opposed the statements of the Teachers' Association leaders and branded them as VC's loyalists. She accused the VC of indulging in corruption and nepotism in appointing teachers and employees of the university and urged all to save the university. The agitating BCL and Students' Forum held its press conference at the same venue at 12:30pm and reiterated the demand for removal of the VC for his alleged involvement in corruption. The forum leaders said their agitation will continue until the VC is removed. The forum's Convener Kamol Kanti Majumder read out the written statement at the conference. BCL and General Students' Forum enforced indefinite strike at CVASU from December 13 to press home their several demands including removal of the VC. On the following day, the authorities closed the university for an indefinite period and postponed the admission test scheduled for December 24.