Pro-AL employees at Ruet assault pro-BNP teachers

17 March 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

A group of pro-Awami League employees of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) yesterday assaulted pro-BNP teachers over teachers' association election slated for March 22. The employees alleged that the outgoing president of Ruet Teachers' Association formed a three-member election commission without convening a general meeting of the teachers. Meanwhile, pro-AL teachers of the university yesterday announced that they would boycott the March 22 election as they said the commission formed to conduct the election is not neutral and non-partisan. They submitted a memorandum to Ruet Vice-Chancellor Prof Fazlul Bari, saying that a group of teachers formed the commission without discussing the issue at a general meeting of the association. The employees also urged the VC to form a neutral election commission taking opinion of all teachers. Campus sources said the employees, led by Employees Association Secretary Rokonuzzamna, met Ruet Teachers Association President Prof Sheikh Nizam-uddowla at his office in the morning and asked him to postpone the 'one sided' election. At one stage, the employees became furious, ransacked the teachers' association office and assaulted some pro-BNP teachers sitting in the president's room. Sources said the employees warned the pro BNP teachers of dire consequences if they go for the election without participation of pro-AL teachers. Following the incident, a tense situation has been prevailing on the Ruet campus. Pro-BNP teachers submitted a memorandum to the VC in the afternoon demanding exemplary punishment to the employees involved in assaulting their colleagues. They also decided to refrain themselves from all university activities protesting the incident. When contacted, VC Prof Fazlul Bari said he will sit with both sides immediately to resolve issue relating to teachers' association election.