Teachers’ agitation paralysing public universities in Bangladesh

university grants commission bangladesh

Discontent arises from delay in promotion and internal conflicts among colleagues

Academic activities at some public universities are being stranded over teachers’ agitation programmes rather than students’, a contrary scenario in the context of our country.

In most cases, the reasons behind such conflicts include delay in teachers’ promotion, conflicts with the vice-chancellors, and, alleged anomalies in university management.

On the other hand, students are carrying out demonstrations and protests demanding resuming classes and taking examinations in due time to avoid session jams. They fear that they will fall victims to the clutches of prolonged session jams.

In at least three universities, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Comilla University (CU) and Khulna University (KU), academic activities are being disrupted by agitation programmes of the teachers.

Terming the situation “unfortunate,” University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury said, “This is an unprecedented phenomenon which is very unfortunate. Teachers should remember that they should not do anything that can hamper students’ interests.”

Academic activities in JU have been stalled for the last one year and a half, due to the agitation programmes of the teachers. The previous vice chancellor, Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir resigned from his post, amidst protests from the teachers who alleged him for corruption and nepotism.

After his resignation, Prof Anwar Hossain was appointed as the vice-chancellor of the university, but within a short period of time, the teachers again started movements demanding his removal which continues till today.

“We fear that a long session jam is ahead, if the situation prevails like this,” said, Ahmed Jamil, a student of history department, JU.

JU Teachers’ Association president Prof Dr Ajit Kumar Mazumder said, whatever they are doing is for the betterment of the university and the students.

Similar situation is prevailing in CU. Last week, the teachers confined the vice chancellor for more than four hours demanding his resignation. Teachers of Bangabandhu Parishad, a pro-Awami League teachers’ front of CU, have been carrying out demonstrations on the campus for quite a long time now.

They have declared to hold demonstrations every day from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Leader of the movement, GM Moniruzzaman, assistant professor of Bangla department and president of Bangabandhu Parishad, CU, told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that their demonstration would continue till their demands are met.

When asked about the inconveniences of the students, he said their demonstration is peaceful and it is not causing any problem to the students.

“This movement is for saving the university and for the betterment of the students,” he said.

Teachers of KU have been protesting against irregularities in promotion. Academic activities have been hampered there for last few months and students fear a prolonged session jam awaits ahead.

Last week, the students went for hunger strikes over there, demanding holding of the examinations.  However, they withdrew the strikes after getting assurance from the university authorities that examinations would be held in due time.

Earlier, teachers’ movements disrupted academic activities in some more public universities including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Begum Rokeya University in, Rangpur. Teachers demonstrated demanding removal of the vice chancellor in both the universities.

When asked how they plan to solve this ongoing crisis, Prof AK Azad Chowdhury said they have sent teams to these universities to investigate the matters and are taking actions to resolve the crisis as soon as possible.