A group of Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists on Tuesday allegedly assaulted Rajshahi Medical University vice-chancellor Professor Jawadul Haque and his personal secretary before forcing them to sign resignation letters.
The group also allegedly snatched the VC’s mobile phone and laptop, removed the CPU and hard disk from the CCTV system, disconnected internet, electricity and other communication lines, and locked several rooms, disrupting regular university activities.
The incident came amid earlier demands by a group of people, including BNP activists, for the VC’s resignation over allegations of irregularities in university appointments and other activities.
Witnesses said a group of 20–25 people led by Rajshahi Metropolitan Krishak Dal president Sharfuzzaman Shamim and Rajshahi district Tanti Dal president Mosarraf Hossain Kajol went to the RMU temporary office inside the Rajshahi Medical College campus in a procession under the banner of ‘Apamor Chhatra Janata’ (Students and the General Public).
Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP’s 6 no ward unit president Al Mostak Shahin, former metropolitan convening committee member Kamal, and Zia Mancha president Bulbul and general secretary Laltu were also among them.
Krishak Dal and Tanti Dal are affiliated with the ruling BNP, while Zia Mancha is also linked to the party.
RMU deputy registrar Mofakkharul Islam told New Age that the incident occurred at about 11:30am.
‘Some people entered the VC’s office in a very aggressive manner, using abusive language. They went to the VC, took his mobile phone from his hand and pulled away his laptop,’ he said.
Mofakkharul said the group accused the VC of denying work to local contractors and awarding contracts to outsiders instead. They then labelled him an ‘Awami League collaborator’ and chanted slogans against him.
At one point, he said, the group produced a resignation letter and ordered the VC to sign it without allowing him to read it.
The VC’s personal secretary, Nazmul Hossain, who was standing beside him, was also assaulted when he intervened, Mofakkharul said.
Nazmul said he was subsequently handed a resignation letter.
‘I was forced to sign the resignation letter,’ he said.
The group took both resignation letters before leaving, Nazmul said.
After leaving the VC’s office, the group held a human chain where Rajshahi Metropolitan Krishak Dal president Sharfuzzaman Shamim said that they had gathered to thank the VC for ‘resigning peacefully on his own’.
Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP senior vice-president Nazrul Huda said local BNP activists and general people had gone to the university office and made the VC resign following disputes over appointments and tender work.
Mizanur Rahman, president of the Rajpara thana BNP, told New Age that activists from BNP, Krishak Dal and Tanti Dal, along with local people led by Sharfuzzaman Shamim, went to the RMU VC’s office to protest against alleged corruption and irregularities by the vice-chancellor.
VC Professor Jawadul Haque told New Age that the group forced him to sign a resignation letter, drove him out of his office and locked it.
‘I have informed the health minister, land minister and health secretary about the incident. I will follow their directions,’ he added.-New Age
