JU students go on strike again, demand VC’s removal

A section of students and teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have declared a strike on campus demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farzana Islam.

On the first day of the strike on Monday, the protesters, under the banner  “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption”, blockaded and padlocked the entrances of most of the administrative and academic building's faculty gates on the campus, creating a deadlock.

The protesters said they will continue the demonstrations until Prof Dr Farzana steps down as VC, due to her alleged involvement in corruption.

They formed a rally circling through the campus around 4pm, declared that the blockade of the administrative buildings would go on indefinitely, and called on a second day strike today.

In the midst of these ongoing protests, the VC remained absent for  her duties for the last two days. 

A section of students and teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) protesting in front of an administrative building of the university on Monday, October 28, 2019 | Dhaka TribuneThe administrative activities were also halted as employees couldn't enter their respective offices due to the strike.

Most of the students of the university boycotted their classes and examinations, expressing solidarity with the demand of the protesters.

However, regular academic activities continued as usual in some of the departments such as IIT, Mathematics, Archeology, Soil Science, and Business Administration of the university.

Professor Arifa Sultana, Chairman of the History Department of the university, took a tutorial exam in front of the University Central Shaheed Minar, after failing to enter the department premises.

Teachers and employees aligning with the VC asked the protesters to consider the overall damage caused by the ongoing protests, and negotiate their terms with the authority through a peaceful discussion.

Jamal Uddin Runu, Professor of Environmental Sciences Department, expressed his solidarity with the protesters and said: "The VC has lost all validation over her position since the corruption allegations. As her actions were controversial regarding the matter, we want her removed from the supreme post."

The students have been demonstrating on the campus since August 23, demanding removal of the university’s VC Prof Farzana Islam for her alleged involvement in corruption and moral degradation.

On October 2, they also called for a strike on the campus which was later withdrawn for holding a discussion meeting with the VC, but no solution came from the meeting, which is why the protest continued.