Staff Reporter :
The Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have suspended the controversial ward quota system for admissions reserved for children of teachers, officials, and staff following two days of intense student protests that triggered unrest on campus.
The decision came after an emergency syndicate meeting held on Sunday (21 September) at the vice-chancellor’s residence, chaired by VC Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib.
The meeting, which ran from 3:30pm to 5pm, upheld a temporary suspension order issued the previous night.
Speaking to reporters, Acting Registrar Prof Iftikharul Alam Masud said, “Admissions under the ward quota have been suspended. Several bodies will review the matter before a final decision is made.”
The syndicate also condemned the confinement and harassment of senior officials during Friday’s demonstrations and formed a five-member internal inquiry committee to investigate the incidents.
It further recommended the formation of a judicial probe committee to ensure impartial investigation.
Despite the suspension order, tensions escalated Friday night as protesting students confined Pro-VC Prof Main Uddin, Proctor Prof Mahbubor Rahman, Registrar Prof Iftikharul Alam Masud, and several teachers inside Zuberi Bhaban for nearly six hours.
They were released at 11:15pm, after which students staged a sit-in outside the VC’s residence. Around 2:30am, the VC appeared before students, assuring them that the syndicate would take a final decision on the quota system.
Students, however, rejected the suspension as insufficient and attempted to break open the gates of the VC’s residence before dispersing around 3am.
Meanwhile, teachers, officers, and employees of RU are observing a full-day work abstention in protest at the harassment of university officials.
The announcement was made Friday night at a press briefing by Prof Abdul Alim, president of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum.
The administration expressed hope that the upcoming Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu) and hall union elections, scheduled for 25 September, would proceed peacefully despite the unrest.
