Rajshahi Correspondent:

A section of Rajshahi University (RU) students on Sunday locked the offices of six deans, demanding their resignation over alleged Awami League affiliations.

The incident took place around noon, when students put locks on the chambers of the deans at the Dean’s Complex and several academic buildings across the campus. As of filing this report, the offices remained locked.

In the dean elections held on December 17, 2023, the Progressive Teachers’ Society – aligned with the Awami League and popularly known as the Yellow Panel – won six of the university’s 12 faculties. The faculties were Law, Science, Business Studies, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Geosciences.

According to the schedule, the tenure of these deans ended on December 17 this year. However, the university administration decided to extend their tenure until fresh elections are held.

The decision was taken by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Saleh Hasan Naqib and Registrar Prof Dr Iftekharul Alam Masud.

Rucsu General Secretary Salauddin Ammar objected to the extension and demanded the immediate resignation of the six deans.

In a Facebook post, Ammar alleged that despite the expiry of their tenure, the administration allowed the “pro-Awami League deans” to remain in office and extended their terms until the next parliamentary elections, expected on February 12 next year.

He warned that students would intensify their movement if the deans did not resign voluntarily.

In another post, Ammar said he would personally visit the six deans with resignation letters and hoped they would step down peacefully, warning of further mobilisation if the demand was ignored.

Ammar and several students went to the chambers of some deans and teachers accused of Awami League affiliations this morning, but none of the deans were present on campus at the time.

“We have prepared a documented list of teachers who stood against students during the July movement,” Ammar said. “The deans were informed by phone about the demand, but none came to campus. I called the six deans personally. We will publish a final list and press for their resignation accordingly.”

Attempts to contact Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.

However, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof Farid Uddin Khan said none of the deans had resigned so far.

“Although their tenure has ended, the administration extended their term considering the upcoming convocation and admission tests,” he said.

“Removing deans at this stage could create serious administrative complications. The VC will make the final decision.”

Later in the afternoon, students including Senate member Akil Bin Taleb, Rucsu Cultural Affairs Secretary Zayed Hasan Joha, and Assistant Cultural Affairs Secretary Rakibul Hasan locked the offices of the six deans.