Editorial
Striking Buet teachers
Why must students suffer?
It is regrettable that students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology have become a hostage of the continuing strike by its teachers.
The strike called with the demand for resignation of the Vice Chancellor (VC) and pro-VC of the university has been in force since April 7 causing serious dislocation in the academic life.
Buet Teachers' Association, which is spearheading the agitation, has been protesting, what it termed, breach of the university's tradition by the VC through giving politically-biased appointment to the pro-VC and restructuring the administration. Teachers have even threatened to boycott classes until the present VC and the pro-VC resign. The VC, on his part, explaining that the appointment was made by the president, also the chancellor of the universities, refuted all the allegations brought against him,
No immediate solution to the ongoing crisis is in sight. The Association leaders could not resolve the dispute even after seeking the intervention of the education minister, because all he did was to advise them to hold talk with the VC to resolve the crisis.
This is a very unfortunate development, to say the least.
Concerned over the harmful impact of this indefinite teachers' strike on their studies and for return of normal academic atmosphere on the campus, students organised several human chains to register their protest.
But so far, teachers have not responded to the students' plea.
Granted teachers have their right to seek redress of their grievances, but why should they abstain from their classes forcing students to suffer?
Teachers should, therefore, join the classes without further delay. As an administrative problem should be resolved administratively, if necessary through the intervention of the education ministry, teachers are duty-bound to take their classes.
Whatever the nature of the problems and their gravity, teachers and administration should resolve those among themselves in the best interest of the students' academic career as well as to save their own image.
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