Students lock offices of pro-Awami League deans at RU

Tension has spread on Rajshahi University (RU) campus centring allegations that six pro-Awami League deans are continuing in their positions even after expiry of tenure. Demanding their removal, students went to Deans Complex at 12 noon on Sunday (21 December) and locked the offices of concerned deans.

At that time, they gathered in front of Deans Complex and raised slogans like 'Compromise no struggle, struggle, struggle', 'Agents of Awami League, beware be careful', 'Address of Awami League, will not be in this Bengal', 'Inqilab, Inqilab', 'Long live, long live', 'Address of Awami deans, will not be in this campus'.

At that time, RUCSU cultural affairs secretary Zaid Hasan Joha said, we do not want Awami fascists to raise head again, sit on our shoulders again. Regarding the six pro-Awami deans, if we speak for morality, we did not say anything before expiry of their tenure. But even after expiry of tenure, they do not have qualification to stay in these positions in any way. This is betrayal with July revolution, dishonesty with July's blood.

Locking the offices, RU Senate member Akil Bin Taleb said in post-July period, the change on campus and so-called revolutionary administration that was formed, we repeatedly raised our concerns to them. Although we informed about various problems including campus security crisis, we did not see consistent initiatives to nurture July's consciousness and spirit in reality. The way Hadi bhai, one of the main forces of July, was shot and killed in broad daylight, it has shaken us deeply. We are clearly seeing that Awami League and Chhatra League workers are involved in these incidents and they are being sheltered inside India.

He further said we are still noticing that many pro-Awami persons are continuing in important state positions, even their presence is there in our university. University is still being run by Syndicate without Senate functioning, and members of that Syndicate are our current deans. Currently there are six deans who are pro-Awami and they are implementing party agenda staying in their positions. The trial of Awami League that was needed, this administration has failed to do it, and as one of the main reasons we are highlighting the role of these pro-Awami deans.

For context, tenure of these pro-Awami deans ended on 17 December last. In this context, RU Registrar had said election of deans is not possible ahead due to admission test. Since we could keep for one year, keeping a few more days will not be problem. Students burst into anger over this comment and RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar gave ultimatum for their resignation. In this context, students today locked their concerned offices.