University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has formed a five-member committee to investigate the current unrest at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University (BSMRSTU) in Gopalganj.
UGC member Muhammed Alamgir has been instructed to file its findings within seven working days, UGC Chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah said on Tuesday.
He said: “We will forward our recommendations to the Education Ministry based on the probe report.”
The other members of the investigation committee are UGC members Md Sazzad Hossain and Dil Afroza Begum, UGC Director for public universities Md Kamal Hossain and Deputy Director Mauli Azad.
The move comes after the ministry wrote to UGC on Monday asking it to open an inquiry.
What caused the protests?
The students started their protests when the BSMRSTU authorities issued an order to suspend second-year law student Fatema-tuz-Zinia earlier this month for her objectionable comments about BSMRSTU on Facebook on September 10.
However, the university lifted the suspension order on September 18 after the news went viral on social media, sparking severe criticism about the university.
On September 20, authorities shut down the university until October 3.
The university authorities also asked its students to evacuate the halls.
On September 21, at least 20 students were injured in attacks by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Khondoker Md Nasiruddin’s supporters.
Terrified by the incident, the students strengthened their protest against the vice-chancellor for his resignation.
