JU Live: Jahangirnagar University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League on Wednesday locked the administrative building and the office of the examination controller protesting at the recruitment of three teachers branding them as linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

They also demanded removal of examination controller Md Salahuddin Ahmed for his alleged involvement in the BNP politics. On Monday, a selection board of the history department recommended three candidates namely, Shamsuddoha Moni, Sharafot Adnan, Shrmin Sultana, among eight others, as fresh lecturers to the department, where at least three former BCL activists applied for the same position. 

Over 100 leaders and activists of the JU unit of the BCL took position in front of the office of examination controller at about 9:00am and put the office under lock and key until 12:30pm.

Later, they also put the new administrative building under lock and key until 2:00pm to press home their demands. Administrative services and services at the examination controller office remained suspended, causing sufferings to the service seekers.

JU unit BCL president Akhtaruzzaman Shohel said, ‘The administration is favouring anti-liberation forces and appointing them as teachers and also to administrative posts. It cannot be accepted.’

‘BCL activists are getting Class III-IV jobs while Jamaat-Shibir activists are being rewarded with faculty positions,’ he added. JU BCL general secretary Habibur Rahman Liton said, ‘We want the administration to rethink the appointment of JU examination controller and appoint someone, who believes in the spirit of the War of Independence.’

‘The administration is working on the interest of external forces of the university’, he added. At about 2:00pm, JU vice-chancellor Nurul Alam held a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the BCL in the council room of the new administrative building.

Later, the BCL suspended the strike following the request by pro-VC Manzurul Haque, treasurer Rasheda Akhter, registrar Rahima kaneez at a short meeting with the BCL leaders on the spot. 

Asked about the closed-door meeting, JU vice-chancellor Nurul Alam said, ‘I have heard their demands. We will form a body and will scrap the recommendation of the three teachers if they are involved in Jamaat and Shibir activities as reported.’

He said that they would discuss the appointment of the examination controller at syndicate meeting.

Dhaka, 15 March (campuslive24.com)//BIT