All the academic activities including classes and examinations at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet have been declared closed for an indefinite period of time. Furthermore, the university administration has ordered the students to leave the dormitories (halls) by noon tomorrow.
On Sunday (January 16) night, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed confirmed the matter. He said the decision was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting on the current situation of the university.
Earlier, The SUST VC, who was locked, was rescued by breaking the lock. Students of SUST were agitating for 3 points including resignation of Provost Body. SUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed asked for 30 days, but the agitated students did not agree any further. They blocked the Vice-Chancellor in the ICT building. The police applied about fifty sound grenades on the protesters. The students dispersed in the face of their baton charges and sound grenades after police took up position there. The students were beaten by the police at the spot where they were found. Police also attacked female students. Some teachers in the university staying there were trying to protect the students, but they also were batoned by the police.
SUST Vice-Chancellor was then removed from the ICT building under police guard. The number of injured students is not yet clear.
No assurance was given from the Vice-Chancellor to fulfill the 3 point demands of the students. The students protested demanding the resignation of Jafrin Ahmed Liza, the provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Girl Students’ Hall of the university and also demanded for a better quality services in the halls resolving the existing problems and mismanagement in the halls.