Over 100 DU Students Gather In Front Of Secretariat

A group of Dhaka University (DU) students have gathered in front of the secretariat to protest the government’s indifference and delay in issuing a gazette notification to appoint Applied Chemistry Department teacher Dr. Mohammad Ismail as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

More than a hundred of students arrived at the secretariat around 11:00 am on Tuesday after staging a demonstration in front of Raju Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus.

The students alleged that President Shahabuddin Ahmed, who is also the Chancellor of the university, has already made the policy decision to appoint the Pro-Vice-Chancellors on August 26.

The government issued a gazette notification to appoint one of them, the Economics Department’s Prof. Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, as Pro-VC (Admin) after their protests.

Students said they came to the secretariat as no gazette was issued about the Pro-VC (Admin).

A student at the secretariat said, “We have heard for a long time that Bidisha Ma’am and Ismail Sir would be appointed as pro-VCs. But, even after so much time has passed, the notices have not been released.”

“Based on our demands, Bidisha Ma’am’s notice was issued yesterday. As Ismail Sir’s notice was not issued, we came to the Secretariat.”

The Ministry of Education issued a notice appointing Prof Sayema Haque Bidisha of the Department of Economics as the pro-vice chancellor (administration) at Dhaka University on Monday.

On Aug 27, Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan of the Department of Development Studies was appointed the vice chancellor of the university.

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on Aug 5, there were resignations from many senior posts in the Dhaka University administration, including the vice chancellor, proctor, hall principals, and deans.