RU teachers enforce 'complete shutdown'

All administrative and academic activities at Rajshahi University remained suspended today as faculty and staff launched a "complete shutdown," demanding reinstatement of the ward quota.

Around 11:00am, they staged a sit-in and formed a human chain on Paris Road, also calling for justice over the recent "assault" on teachers by students.

The protesters declared that the indefinite strike would continue until their demands were fulfilled.

However, essential services, including medical care and transportation, have been kept outside the scope of the shutdown.

They further demanded the expulsion of students involved in the assault, as well as the cancellation of their candidature in the upcoming Rajshahi University Chhatra Students Union (Rucsu) election.

During the protest, RU Officers' Association President Moktar Hossain said, "This administration has formed many investigation committees in the past nine months, none of which have seen the light of day. We no longer want to stop at the investigation committees. We will only return home once the justice is ensured."

Professor Jahangir Alam, general secretary of the RU unit of University Teachers Association of Bangladesh, said, "If we fail to ensure justice, we may face similar situations in the future. he also demanded cancellation of certificates of those students whose studentship has already ended but were involved in the incident."

Roksana Begum, director of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, said, "We are standing here today to protest the assault and humiliation of our teachers and officers, including the pro-vice chancellor, by students."

Such an incident has never occurred since the establishment of Rajshahi University, she said adding, "A proper investigation and justice must be ensured. If justice is not delivered, even graver consequences may follow."

The "complete shutdown" was announced yesterday to protest the alleged attack on teachers during a scuffle with students demonstrating against the reinstatement of the "ward quota" — a provision granting admission privileges to children of the university's teachers and staff.