Protests on at RU for VC's resignation

RU Correspondent

Chhatra Sangram Parishad, an alliance of four student organisations and Samajtantrik Chhtara Front (SCF), a left student body, yesterday held separate rallies and brought out processions on Rajshahi University campus demanding resignation of the Vice-chancellor for appointing "controversial" persons as teachers and allowing Shibir cadre Salehi to appear at masters examination.

Salehi is the prime accused in the case filed in connection with the murder of Prof Taher Ahmed on the campus.

The student bodies also demanded arrest and punishment to killers of Prof Taher.

A founding teacher of the department of Mining and Geology, Prof S Taher Ahmed was killed on the night of February 1 at his flat on the campus.

At a rally held in front of central library, Parishad leaders expressed grave concern over recent appointments 'two controversial' teachers in law and justice department, ignoring the selection board.

They leaders blamed the BNP-Jammat aligned RU administration for appointing pro-Jamaat men as teachers.

Parishad leaders also criticised RU authorities for initiating a process for appointment of more than 350 employees, allegedly on political consideration.

This has tarnished the image of the university and turned it into a "rehabilitation center'' for Jamaat and BNP cadres.

They threatened of launching tougher agitation if the university authorities do not stop such "illegal" appointment of teachers and employees and allow Shibir cadre Salehi to appear at examination.

BCL RU unit president Ibrahim Hossain Moon, general secretary Ayen Uddin, its leaders Zahid Ali and Rashidul Islam and JSD RU unit president Taimur Rahman addressed the rally.

Earlier, they brought out a procession on the campus.

At the rally held in front of the business administration building, SCF leaders criticised university authorities and police administration for not submitting charge sheet of Prof Taher murder case in five months after the incident.

They said teachers, students and officials feel insecure on the campus as cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir are in 'control' of the university. They regretted that there has not been any meaningful progress in investigation into the murders of Prof Taher and Prof Yunus and arrest of the killers despite demonstrations by teachers, students and employees for long.

They demanded submission of charge sheets in the cases soon and arrest of the killers.

SCF leaders also demanded resignation of RU Vice-chancellor for 'illegal' appointments in many departments, violating university rules, and allowing Shibir leader Salehi to appear at masters examination.