Savar, Sep 24: Activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit of Jahangirnagar University (JU) locked the vice chancellor in his office this morning for not appointing the organisation’s vice president as a lecturer in the chemistry department.
The BCL men took position in front of the VC office at 10am on Sunday (24 September) and locked him in for two hours.
They reportedly compelled the VC to postpone the interview for the teacher recruitment board of the Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS, scheduled for 10am this morning.
Around 12pm, Gautam Kumar Biswas, the VC’s secretary, informed the candidates and said they would be notified at a later date.
Later, the VC, pro-VC, treasurer, deans and other teachers held a meeting with JU unit’s BCL President Aktaruzzaman Sohel and General Secretary Habibur Rahman Liton.
In this regard, Aktaruzzaman Sohel said after the meeting, “We don’t want to see any kind of nepotism in the recruitment of teachers. Only qualified and pro-independence candidates should be appointed.”
Earlier on 20 September, the university administration appointed three lecturers of the chemistry department. The BCL leaders and activists caused a scene today as Chhatra League Vice President Sadia Afrin Papri was among the appointed, according to sources.
The three newly appointed lecturers are former students of the department, all of whom have secured first or second rank in their respective graduation and post-graduation degrees.
However, Chhatra League vice president Papri secured fifth place in graduation and third place in post-graduation. She is also accused of being involved in cheating and leaking questions in the third-year examination.
One of the candidates who had come in for the interview, Md Sujan, said, “I’ve come all the way from the capital’s Khilgaon to sit for the exam after taking leave from my office. I waited a long time and now I have to go back. This is very disappointing.”
Prof Sheikh Touhidul Islam, director of the institute, said, “The recruitment of teachers for our department is a dire need. Around 23 candidates applied for one vacant post. However, the postponement of the board is a very unexpected event.”
Later on, Vice Chancellor Prof Md Nurul Alam said, “The university administration fully agrees with the demands made by the Chhatra League. In the recruitment of teachers, we are giving priority to the high achievers. I have recruited at least 40 teachers during my tenure. No one opposed to independence has ever been appointed.”
