Chittagong University college students protest by locking their classrooms, boycotting exams

❐ Campus Correspondent

Students at Chittagong University’s Laboratory School and College have boycotted exams and staged protests to protest the removal of 9 teachers.

The program, which began at 10 am today, Wednesday, will continue until 3 pm. The students demanded the cancellation of the appointments of 9 newly appointed teachers and the reinstatement of the previous teachers.

The students alleged that the Higher Secondary First Year Information and Science Technology exam was scheduled to be held at 10 am. However, when they went to take the exam, they found that the nine teachers who were teaching earlier were no longer in charge; new teachers had joined in their place. Angered by this, the students boycotted the exam and started a movement demanding the return of the old teachers.

They went to the principal’s office and demanded an explanation. After not receiving a satisfactory answer, they locked the principal’s office and several classrooms.

College sources said that currently there are 47 teachers working in the institution. Recently, 9 new teachers have joined the college branch; they were appointed on February 5. Md. Abdul Qayyum was appointed as the principal of the same institution on February 9. He is the brother of the acting registrar of the university, Professor Mohammad Saiful Islam.

These appointments have been the subject of controversy. Some teachers and students have alleged that appointments were made based on nepotism and party affiliation. It is also reported that some students were trapped in classrooms due to the lockdown.

Md. Naeem Hasan, a class 11 student who participated in the movement, said, “The teachers who were there during the first examination are no longer visible; the principal is also new. In this situation, they are continuing the program demanding the reinstatement of the old teachers and the movement will continue until they receive assurances from the administration.”

Student Umaira Hasan also raised the same demand, saying that they had a close and guardian-like relationship with their previous teachers. They are not satisfied with the behavior of the new teachers. Although they complained to the principal about this, they did not receive the expected cooperation.

Principal Md. Abdul Qayyum said he could not comment on why the previous teachers were dropped. He said the newly appointed teachers are working to maintain normal academic activities through coordination.

University Proctor Hossain Shahid Sarwardy said he has spoken to the students and will present their demands to the administration.

On the other hand, Acting Registrar Mohammad Saiful Islam claimed that everyone concerned was appointed based on merit.

He said that his brother and others were appointed through examinations. He also believes that teachers may have an influence on the ongoing protest program. He expressed hope that although educational activities will be disrupted for a few days, the situation will return to normal.