Gopalganj Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Khondoker Md Nasiruddin has stepped down from his post amid continuous demonstration of the students. Earlier in the morning, he submitted his resignation letter to additional secretary of the Ministry of Education Abdullah Al Hasan Chowdhury.
Later, the letter was handed over to Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. In a press briefing, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said: "I have received the resignation letter. We also have the University Grants Commission (UGC) investigation report in hand." Earlier on Sunday, the UGC probe committee, formed to investigate the alleged misdeeds of VC Dr Khondoker, recommended that he should be removed from the post.
In the report, UGC Member Prof Dil Afroze Begum said the five-member investigation committee found evidence of irregularities and corruption on the part of BSMRSTU VC Prof Dr Khondoker. Students of BSMRSTU at Gopalganj have been staging non-stop demonstrations for 11 days, demanding the VC's resignation.
They also continued their sit-in program on the university campus on Monday.
The BSMRSTU authorities issued an order to suspend second-year law student Fatema-tuz-Zinia earlier this month, for her supposedly objectionable comments about BSMRSTU in Facebook on September 10. On September 18, the university lifted the suspension order as the the news went viral on social media, and sparked severe criticism about the university.
On September 20, authorities shut down the university until October 3 asking the students to vacate the halls. On September 21, at least 20 students of BSMRSTU in Gopalganj were injured during attacks by the vice-chancellor’s supporters. Following the attack, the students strengthened their protest against the vice-chancellor, and demanded his resignation.
