Scuffle at VC's office at SAU, several injured

A scuffle took place between a group of teachers and administrative officials at the vice-chancellor's office at Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) this afternoon, leaving several injured.

The incident occurred around 1:00pm while a group of teachers visited SAU VC Professor Md Alimul Islam to press home several demands, including recruitment and administrative issues.

Professor Dr Mozammel Hoque, chairman of the department of Agronomy and Haor Agriculture, told reporters that, “Since joining the university, there has been many anomalies under the VC's watch, including ad-hoc recruitment, which annoyed many teachers, officials, and students.”

“We, a group of teachers, went to meet the VC today, and requested him to stop the illegal recruitment process and reinstate the registrar, proctor, and others who were removed by the VC unlawfully after taking office.”

Prof Mozammel said, “At one point during the discussion, a group of staff of the VC’s office attacked us, leaving Prof Mohammed Mahbub Iqbal of the Fish Biology and Genetics Department injured. Other teachers, including me, were injured in the attack.”

Talking to journalists, SAU VC Professor Md Alimul Islam said, “Since I was appointed as the vice-chancellor by the interim government, I tried to run the university as per the rules. After my joining, a clash occurred on the campus, and we had to reshuffle the administration as per the students’ demands.”

He said, “Now, after over a year, a group of teachers came to me demanding that the registrar, proctor, and others, who were removed from their posts, must be reinstated as the interim government is almost gone.”

“After I denied their demands and said that I was the elected president of the teachers’ association at Bangladesh Agricultural University from Jatiyotabadi Panel. At one point, they tried to assault me, but other staff members of my office intervened. The teachers beat them. I suffered injuries on two of my fingers,” he added.

The vice-chancellor added, “I will be taking legal actions against the attackers as per the rules.