Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, former Jagannath University (JnU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sadeka Halim resigned amidst students’ demands like the other universities. Though it's been a month since her resignation, the university has not yet got a new vice-chancellor.
At the same time, along with the Vice-Chancellor, the university Registrar, Proctor, Hall Provost, Transport Administrator, Head of Public Relations Information and Publication Department, Director of Student Welfare and other important department heads resigned.
As the vice-chancellor is not appointed yet, appointments in those departments remain stopped. As a result, the academic and administrative complexity of the university is increasing. Students and employees have become unable to complain about various issues. Procrastination is also seen in academic and administrative works.
On an emergency basis the university Treasurer appointed an Acting Registrar at the university Registrar's office.
Meanwhile, since the resignation of the former vice-chancellor Sadeka Halim, the teachers and students have been holding continuous programmes demanding the appointment of a new vice-chancellor from among the university's own professors. They have done human chain, department based activities, and common students’ signature programme. They made a written request to the Education Secretary and held a press conference and announced the gate lock programme if the vice-chancellor would not be appointed from the university.
Pranta Das Gupta, a student of the Finance department of the university, said, “ I believe to reform our university in a better way, we need VC from our university. The vice-chancellors who have come from outside universities have not made the desired development. Therefore, we want a vice-chancellor from among the teachers of our university very quickly to resolve these complications.”
When Sheikh Masrick Hasan, Secretary of JnU Teachers' Association was asked if the teachers are facing any disruption or there are any complications while doing their work as there is no vice-chancellor in the university, he said, "Due to the absence of a vice-chancellor, Syndicate meetings are not being held. As a result, recruitment and promotion of teachers are not being done on time. Apart from this, various developmental works such as increasing the facilities of common rooms for female students, installing AC in the teachers' lounge, etc. are not progressing.”
He also said that he believes the appointment of a vice-chancellor from JnU will benefit the university. Because the teachers know both overt and hidden problems that the university has been facing.
The university Treasurer Professor Dr. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury said, “Key decisions of the university have to be taken by the Syndicate, Academic Council and Disciplinary Committee. These meetings are called by the vice-chancellor. Here's where it gets a little complicated. Another thing is that there is no proctor, no transport administrator, one person has to maintain everything.”
Emphasizing a quick appointment of JnU vice-chancellor he also added that as JnU teachers are performing their duties in other universities, they can also perform the role of vice-chancellor in this university.
