A group of teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Wednesday demanded resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farzana Islam for her alleged engagement in corruption. They issued an ultimatum giving time until October 1 for the VC to resign from her post “respectfully”, saying she had morally lost her position to the post. The teachers and students also declared the VC persona-non-grata to all buildings during admission test for the 2019-20 session which is scheduled to be held from September 22 to October 1.
Prof Raihan Rhyne of Philosophy department, also the coordinator of ‘Jahangirnagar Against Corruption’, announced the ultimatum at a press meet at the New Arts Building around 7:30pm after a meeting with the university administration as they could not reach any settlement on their demands.
They also vowed to go on a tougher movement if their ultimatum is not fulfilled. JU VC Prof Farzana Islam said, “If the higher authorities of the state ask me to resign, I will resign from the post. If they don’t say it, I will continue my duties overlooking criticism of the protesters.” However, she denied her involvement with the alleged corruption. She also told the reporters that she had informed the matter to the UGC and prime minister.
Today (on Thursday) they brought out a protest procession on the campus demanding resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam over allegation of corruption. The protest procession started from Social Science faculty building and ended in front of the administrative building around 1:00pm with a brief rally.
Addressing at the rally General Secretary of Socialist Student Front, Mohammad Didar said, “People all over the country has known that JU VC is involved in corruption. She has ethically lost the post.” A protester, Prof Dr Tareq Reja said, “Our stance is clear. We will not accept the way she misused people’s money and demand her resignation immediately. We are rejecting this corrupted and autocratic VC.”
At least 20 teachers and around 100 students were present at the protest procession. The agitated students of JU have been demonstrating on the campus since August 23 judicial probe into the allegations of corruption and irregularities.
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