BRUR now bans protests before admin building, VC's house

Already tainted with a number of allegations, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) has yet again stirred controversy.

This time around, the university syndicate has banned all kinds of rallies, silent processions as well as protests on the premises of the administrative building and Vice Chancellor's (VC) bungalow. 

Any activities that threaten security on the university campus and create stalemate there have also been prohibited.   

The university authorities have also clamped an embargo on the padlocking of classrooms, academic and administrative buildings and the Vice Chancellor's (VC) bungalow. 

In a notice signed by BRUR Registrar Colonel Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal (retd.) on January 31, the university also restricted entry to the administrative building and the Vice Chancellor's (VC)bungalow, especially by what was referred to as "risky people" and "intruders".

It also warned of legal action against those violating the restrictions. 

Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the notice, which read that the bans were imposed to help a smooth continuation of administrative and overall activities of the university.     

The university and its VC Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah have recently been in the headlines over a number  of irregularities, including question paper leaks, questionable recruitment and promotion of teachers and abuse of power.

Also Read - BRUR VC's irregularities: Now teacher denied appointment as accounting department head

Despite its issuance on January 31, the contents of the notice became known on Friday, drawing flak from different quarters. 

The BRUR Teachers' Protection Council protested the decisions by issuing a statement on Saturday. 

Signed by Prof Motiur Rahman and Khairul Kabir Suman, the organisation's convener and secretary general respectively, the statement said the BRUR notice was contrary to the constitution. 

"VC Kalimullah had the notice issued, to hush up all the corruption he has committed. It was also meant to stop protests against his misdeeds," it added, demanding that the notice be withdrawn soon. 

University Teachers' Association President Md Faridul Islam said the university administration had been doing many unauthorised things. 

"It is quite normal to raise one’s voice against such irregularities. But such a notice indicates that the university authorities did it all to silence dissent," he observed.  

Reacting to the latest development, the BRUR unit of Chhatra League gave the university authorities a week to step back from their decision.

Neither the BRUR VC nor the registrar could be reached despite repeated phone calls to have their take on the notice.