Bangladesh News

Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University (SAU) was closed yesterday for an indefinite period following violent student demonstrations over their 7-point demands.

The agitating students gave a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, defying the SAU authorities’ order to vacate dormitories by 5:00pm.

However, at around 8:00pm, a number of students were seen leaving their dorms, said witnesses.

Dr Ruhul Amin, proctor of SAU, told The Daily Star that last week, when the university was officially open, students of levels 2, 3 and 4 went on vacation without approval from the authorities.

As a disciplinary measure, the academic council of the university at a meeting on May 27 decided to curtail one-month’s scholarship funds of the students who went on the vacation without proper approval.

The council also decided to make formal complaints to the guardians of the students for their disorderly conduct.

The students became rowdy and started demonstrations as they came to know about the actions intended against them.

Several hundred of the students yesterday besieged the office of the acting vice-chancellor for about an hour since noon. They also ransacked several office rooms including that of the proctor, set fire to bed sheets in the hallway of a dormitory and locked up different classrooms and the main entrance to the university.

Following the incident, the academic council of the university at an emergency meeting decided to close SAU indefinitely and vacate all four dormitories of the university.

Students said they submitted a memorandum mentioning their 7-point demands to Acting Vice-chancellor Habib Abu Ibrahim at around 10:30am.

The students’ demands include withdrawal of expulsion orders against students on various charges dating a few months back, withdrawal of the decision to curtail their scholarship funds, allowing student representatives in the academic council and allowing graduates of Degree (Hons) course for admission in MS course.

Police have been deployed on the university campus to ward off any further untoward situation.