Campus Desk

Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Prof Satya Prasad Majumder has expressed his solidarity with the demand raised by the agitated students to keep the campus free from student politics.

“I also equivocally support the demand but I will have to go through a due procedure. I need time to meet the students’ demands,” he said while talking to newsmen at his office on the university campus this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the agitating students postponed their protest for this day and announced to boycott all academic activities including the term-final examinations scheduled for Sunday.

The students went on the protest against the activities of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on the campus where student politics is prohibited.

On October 11, 2019, Buet authorities banned student politics after Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering was beaten to death by a group of BCL activists at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours on 7 October.

Amid protests of general students, Buet authorities cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, a student of the 21st batch of the Civil Engineering department and also a member of the BCL central panel, but no decision was taken about his expulsion as per the demand of the students.

The protesting students gave an ultimatum to the university authorities seeking the expulsion of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi within 2 pm today.

They also demanded the expulsion of those students whom they identified by analysing CCTV footage. They are ASM Anas Ferdous (ID: 1818004), Mohammad Hasin Arman Nihal (ID:2106101), Aniruddha Majumdar (ID:2106079), Zohirul Islam Emon (ID:2112031) and Sayem Mahmud Sajedin Rifat (ID: 2106126) for violating the rules of the university.

Besides, the students asked the university authorities to clarify their stance regarding the entrance of BCL men in the midnight and use of the seminar room for political purposes as it requires permission from the Directorate of Students' Welfare (DSW).

The students also sought the resignation of the Director of Student Welfare for ‘failing to do his duty and violating the regulation of the university’. They also declared a continued boycott of academic activities till March 31.

The Buet authorities assured the protesting students of forming a probe to investigate the matter on Friday.

At midnight on March 28, BCL president Saddam Hussain along with other leaders and activists entered the Buet campus when Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, an executive member of the BCL central panel, was present and allegedly played a vital role in the entering of the BCL men.

Besides, some leaders and activists of the newly formed BCL committees gave floral wreaths to the president.

One of the gatemen of Buet seeking anonymity also confirmed the matter of using the auditorium at midnight of March 28 by BCL leaders.