Pressure for resignation of Elected Deans : Chhatra Dal protests Ammar’s ‘terrorist activities

RU Correspondent

The university’s Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JJD) has accused the behavior of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU) General Secretary (GS) Salahuddin Ammar of being akin to ‘terrorist activities’. The organization made the allegation in protest against the coercion and threatening statements made by elected deans in the resignation of their deans.

A statement signed by Siam Bin Ayub, joint secretary of the university branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal, sent to the media on Sunday night, said that last Thursday, Raksur GS Salahuddin Ammar posted on his personal Facebook account and a group called ‘Rajshahi University Parliament’, setting a deadline for the resignation of pro-Awami deans. In that post, if the deans were seen in the chairs, ugly comments were made and a warning was given that ‘I will explain the rest’.

The statement further said that on Friday, he also threatened to tie up any teachers or officials who were supported by Awami fascism in their jobs in front of the administrative building.

Describing these statements as threatening and unstudent-like behavior, the Chhatra Dal said that such statements directed at teachers, officials and employees are against the university’s educationally friendly environment. They claim that as a student leader, indecent and aggressive behavior towards teachers is tantamount to terrorist acts.

The statement criticized the so-called ‘lockdown’ culture at the university as a center of knowledge. Referring to the incident of insulting an official, including the vice-chancellor, through provocative actions in the past, it said that such incidents have humiliated the teaching community and marked a black chapter in the history of the university.

It was also stated that leaders and activists of all levels of the Chhatra Dal branch will resist any attempt to insult teachers at the school of martyred intellectual Dr. Syed Shamsujohar.

The Chhatra Dal further demanded that if there is specific evidence against someone as an accomplice of fascism, action should be taken under the country’s existing laws. However, if there is an attempt to destabilize the campus through tagging and threats without evidence, it demanded that those involved be identified and given exemplary punishment.

University branch Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi and General Secretary Sardar Zahurul Islam said in a joint statement that threats, indecent and violent behavior towards teachers, officials and employees at Rajshahi University are a serious threat to the environment for learning. They also said that attempts to destabilize the campus through propaganda and threats without specific evidence will not be tolerated.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Raksu GS Salahuddin Ammar held a program demanding the resignation of the deans of six faculties. He took a stand in front of the Raksu building. Since none of the deans were on campus, he called them one by one in front of the media personnel and published the resignation letters written to them.

Later, after receiving information that former Vice-Chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar was taking classes, he went to his department; but the teacher was not found there. Then in the afternoon, the students locked the offices of three deans in the Deans Complex building. Later, all the rooms in the administration building, including the Vice-Chancellor’s, were locked. The locks were later opened after the administration assured them.