JU CLC appointment row: Chhatra Dal frees VC after students lock registrar building

Tensions have escalated at Jahangirnagar University (JU) over the appointment of the director of its Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture (CLC). Prof Dr Mostafa Nazmul Mansur of the philosophy department was appointed director after outgoing director Prof Dr Shamima Sultana became a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC). However, following objections by Associate Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Haque Hamim to the appointment of a teacher from another department, institute students locked the registrar building and began a sit-in at 3pm.

Shahjalal Mahmud, a student of the 53rd batch, said: “Our demand was that a teacher from our institute should become director. This is a reasonable demand. We have not come with any political agenda. We came here to study. Our institute is new and needs to make progress. That is why we consider the institute’s experienced teachers suitable. We want to continue our studies properly. An experienced teacher from our own department should be appointed.”

With the vice-chancellor and other senior officials confined inside during a syndicate meeting, leaders and activists of the university unit of Chhatra Dal went to the building in the evening, led by its convener, Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar. They broke the lock and freed the vice-chancellor and other officials.

An eyewitness and administrative sources gave this account: “They spoke about their demands. The university administration heard them out, took their concerns into account and saw them off. But later, Prof Kamrul Haque Hamim’s people and followers came and locked the building while the syndicate meeting was in progress. After hearing about it, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered there, broke the lock and helped the vice-chancellor into his car so he could attend his programme in Dhaka.”

After the vice-chancellor was freed, the university authorities issued a stern warning over security and discipline at the administrative building. Expressing anger over the situation, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Nurul Islam said: “The president has entrusted me with the responsibility of working at this university. I am the guardian of this university. If students have any problems or needs, they should meet me and speak to me. But they have no authority to obstruct academic activities by locking the registrar building. Whoever locked it, and whichever teachers were involved or instigated it, will all be identified and action will be taken under the university’s rules.”