Jahangirnagar University students took to the streets on Sunday alleging that vice-chancellor Farzana Islam had made false statements about the movement against corruption.
More than a hundred students brought out a procession from Social Science faculty building at 1:00pm and ended the demonstration in a rally at Murad Chhattar.
Speakers at the rally said Farzana Islam condemned the protests against corruption while talking with media and also said that the protesters were trying to hamper the development activities by stating demonstrations.
‘The university authorities said that we were obstructing the development of the university. But those who were really against the development were the people who took 4 to 6 per cent of the total allocation as commission from the projects,’ said Socialists Students’ Front JU branch organising secretary Shovon Rahman.
He complained that the Bangladesh Chhatra League central unit demanded secret commission from the VC in August but she did not reveal the matter, because she had involvement with corruption.
‘The university authorities are responsible for the current situation as we did not create this situation intentionally,’ said president of Socialist Students’ Front (Marxist) of JU unit Mahathir Mohammad.
The spokesperson for Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Songrakkhan Parishad of JU unit Khan Muntasir Arman said, ‘The news item on giving secret commission to BCL leaders has already been spread over the country. The journalists of the university played a courageous role in unveiling the corruption and irregularities.’
Meanwhile, a faction of pro-Awami League, under the banner of ‘Bangabandhur Adarsha O Muktijuddher Chetonay Bishwashi Shikkhak Samaj’ demanded resignation of the vice‑chancellor through a press statement. They demanded the judicial inquiry into the corruption allegations.
Mentionable, the university authorities accepted protesting teachers and students two demands after a meeting on September 12.
The authorities however did not accept the demand for conducting a judicial investigation against vice-chancellor as an allegation was raised against her that she had given Tk 2 crore as extortion to JU Chhatra League.
She has taken times till September 18 for her decision about the judicial investigation. Despite repeated attempts, the VC could not be reached for comment over the issue.
Meanwhile, Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday evening removed BCL president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury and general secretary Golam Rabbani from the Bangladesh Chhatra League before completion of their two-year term.
The leaders faced various allegations after Jahangirnagar university vice-chancellor Farzana Islam made a complaint to the prime minister that the two leaders demanded a ‘four to six per cent’ secret commission from a Tk 1,445 crore development works at Jahangirnagar University.
Source: Newage
