AL men stop recruitment at Rajshahi University

Candidates who came for an oral examination for the post of administrator at Rajshahi University's Public Relations office Monday afternoon were barred by the local Awami League leaders and activists from entering the exam venue. The exam was scheduled to be held at the residence of RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mahmud Mizanuddin. The ruling party activists barricaded the main gate of the residence, and barred the candidates and the recruitment board members from entering the premises. According to witnesses, around 50-60 activists led by Motihar unit Awami League General Secretary Alauddin blocked the main gate around 3pm and asked the candidates waiting there to leave. Neither the university proctor nor the police took any action during the incident. The ruling party men left the place around 5pm when the proctor, Prof Mozibul Huq Azad, assured them that the recruitment procedure had been suspended. Motihar unit Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Elias Hossain claimed that the university authorities were trying to hire Jamaat-Shibir members for the post of public relations administrator. “So we had no other choice but to barricade the gate of the VC's residence,” he said. VC Prof Mahmud Mizanuddin said: “A circular for the job was issued around two months back and the oral exams of six to seven candidates were supposed to be held today [on Monday]. But we could not hold the exams because of the Awami League activists.”