In the 93rd emergency syndicate meeting of Comilla University (CoU), students of Comilla university formed a human chain on Wednesday rejecting the announcement of the closure of the university and halls. The students demanded that the halls remain open and to start classes. Nasir Hossain, Provost, Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall and Al-Amin Hossain, House Tutor of Sheikh Hasina Hall also supported the students.
The students made a movement on the road adjacent to the university campus on Wednesday May 1. Sadia Afrin, a student of Finance and Banking department of the university's 14th rotation, said, 'I came to the university to study, but the unstable situation has been going on in the university for the past few months. Sometimes the teachers' association is boycotting classes, now again the university administration is closing the university for an indefinite period, ordering to close the hall. As an ordinary student, my question is how we students are guilty of this conflict between teachers? Why do we suffer? Many students here are living to support themselves and their families by doing tuition, where will they go?
Who will take responsibility for the fact that we are lagging behind in education? I want to demand only one thing, that our academic activities should be started, the halls should not be closed.'
Fahmida Sultana, a student of the English Department said, 'The circus is going on in the university now. First, the administration decided that all activities will be closed till May 2, online classes will continue. Giving a thumbs up to administration's decision, the teacher's association again decided to return to classes on their own from April 28, before which they again boycotted classes for an indefinite period. Now again the administration is kicking us out of the hall, suspending academic activities indefinitely. Such a decision is not acceptable on the fact that several departments are lagging behind due to Corona pandemic. We are victims of the conflict between the teachers' association and the vice-chancellor. I hope for a quick solution to this situation.'
Anas Ahmed, a student of the law department said, 'Today, we the ordinary students are standing here to get some demands. We have to start classes, exams, keep the halls open. The culprits should be properly judged after investigating the attack of outsiders on the teachers. The ongoing situation needs to be resolved quickly, otherwise we will continue our activities.'
Nasir Hossain, Nazrul Hall Provost said, "The current crisis has reached the highest level due to the decision of the syndicate." Such decisions are taken in the face of student crisis. I don't think that happened. And in Kazi Nazrul hall, no illegal weapons or money entered. My hall will be open. I am taking responsibility of the students of my hall.'
Al-Amin, a resident teacher of Sheikh Hasina Hall, said, 'I am saying with responsibility that there are no illegal weapons in my hall." Mine is normal. I told the students, they could live as they like. No one can forcibly remove the students from the hall.'
In this regard, the vice-president of the university teachers' association, Professor Dr. Kazi Mohammad Kamal Uddin said, 'This decision of the administration is a dictatorial decision. I spoke to the provosts of various halls and they said that the halls are running very well. And I want the academic activities to continue. I think this vice chancellor is an incompetent administrator. His resignation is the solution to everything.'
To know about this matter, the proctor (acting) of the university Kazi Omar Siddiqui said, 'We are on the side of the students. But every time there is a holiday, the same notice goes out that the hall has to be vacated. Many times the hall is sealed and everyone has to accept it. Since this notice does not mention the Silgala, if no one leaves the hall by 4 pm, the hall administration will discuss with the students and take a student-friendly decision.
