BUET campus has been in turmoil since Saturday morning with six-point demands. As per the earlier announcement, the students first took a position in front of Shahid Minar of the campus, then in front of the administration building. The protest continued till 12:30 noon. They stayed in front of the administration building till 2 pm. Abandoned all academic activities including term finals.
However, even though the students protested for five and a half hours, there was no positive response from the university administration regarding their demands. The program was ended today as several protesting students fell ill. At the end of the second day’s program, the protesting students said that the sit-in program will continue again in the premises of BUET Shaheed Minar from 7 am on Sunday.
Earlier in the morning, students boycotted class-exams and occupied the foot of Shaheed Minar of the campus with six-point demand. It was said in the official press conference there that a nefarious group is trying to introduce student politics in BUET through the entry of political student organizations.
The fear of students is that Chhatra League is repeatedly trying to carry out political activities in the campus with the direct help of the administration. They complained, ‘BUET students are being given posts in the central committee of Chhatra League. We protested against it two years ago. Then the university administration said that if someone does politics outside the campus, it is his personal matter. But now it appears that the central student leaders are entering the campus through those members and holding meetings. Chhatra League is trying to become active again in BUET and the administration is also playing a role in their favor. It’s sad.’
Meanwhile, BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Satya Prasad Majumder spoke to the media on Saturday in the afternoon in the face of the agitation. He criticized the Chhatra League for entering the campus. The vice-chancellor said, ‘If someone enters (the campus) late at night, it is definitely irregular. If any security guard allows outsiders to enter, we will take action against him. And who has entered, they must be identified first. Punishment cannot be done without detection. It needs time.’
The Vice-Chancellor also said, ‘The entire incident will be investigated and action will be taken according to the law of the university. A 6-member investigation committee has already been formed. The inquiry committee has been asked to submit the report by April 8.
Regarding the demand for the resignation of Professor Mizanur Rahman (DSW), Director of Student Welfare Department of BUET, he said, ‘It will be arranged according to the rules. The inquiry committee will look into it. DSW said there was no negligence on his part. Students can make demands, but we cannot take action in the face of demands.’