Joynal Abedin, BU Correspondent:
Students of Barishal University (BU) have locked all administrative offices on campus, demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Suchita Sharmin. On Tuesday (May 6), around 12:30 PM, the protestors padlocked the collapsible gate of the administrative building and held a protest rally. They warned that if their one-point demand is not met, they would shut down all academic and administrative activities of the university.
S.M. Wahidur Rahman, a student of the Law Department and one of the protestors, stated, “We have decided to shut down the administration with the consensus of all students. So far, five departments have issued statements in favour of the VC’s resignation. We hope other departments will follow suit. If the VC does not resign, we will be forced to initiate an academic shutdown. We have already received significant support from general students. Tomorrow, we might officially announce a complete university shutdown after holding a discussion. If necessary, we are prepared to go on a hunger strike unto death.”
On the third consecutive day of protests, students staged a sit-in for about two hours on the ground floor of the administrative building. During the protest, they chanted slogans against the VC. Around 1 PM, the protestors brought out another rally and staged a symbolic protest, carrying a mock coffin of the university administration in front of the VC’s residence, where they held a half-hour sit-in. Before that, they had locked the offices of the vice-chancellor, treasurer, and other administrative departments.
Students claimed that the administration has attempted to suppress the movement by issuing threats and filing General Diaries (GDs) with the police, which they said was completely unacceptable. Earlier, on February 14, the university administration filed a case against 42 students, named and unnamed, in response to a previous protest. The current movement is focused solely on the one-point demand for the VC’s resignation.
Ashik Ahmed, a student from the Bangla Department, said, “The Vice-Chancellor has lost the moral authority to continue in her position due to her failure to perform her duties. She must resign immediately; otherwise, we will escalate our protest to force her resignation.”
Azmain Sakib, a protesting student from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, “As you know, after August 5, the registrar and other officials who benefited during a fascist regime have been reinstated. The university administration has shown no significant action. Secondly, just like the ruling Awami League government has tried to suppress democratic movements with lawsuits and intimidation, VC Suchita Sharmin is also trying to crush this just movement by students in the same manner. This is a fascist attempt in a democratic country. We will not allow it. We demand her immediate resignation.”
Previously, on November 30, students had staged protests demanding the VC’s resignation. Before that, they had carried out demonstrations based on 22-point demands. Later, after a meeting with the VC, a group of students temporarily paused the protest, giving her a one-month deadline. Additionally, on February 15, 42 students were sued at Barisal Bandar Police Station for allegedly vandalising the gate of the VC’s residence. In that case, VC Dr. Suchita Sharmin was named as the main witness. Following these events, on April 13, Professor Dr. Md. Mohsin Uddin was removed from his positions on the syndicate and academic council, with the administration labelling him as a “collaborator of a fallen government.” These developments have created intense unrest on campus, with students now vowing to continue their movement until the VC steps down.
BU students demand VC’s resignation, threaten academic shutdown
