A section of teachers, officers and other employees of Rajshahi University continued demonstrations on Saturday, demanding the reinstatement of the ward quota facility for admission to the university for their children and grandchildren.
On the day, which was the second day running of their agitation, they staged a sit-in in front of the university鈥檚 administrative building for two hours from 10:00am, boycotting regular activities except for conducting exams.
Addressing the sit-in, biochemistry and molecular biology professor Masudul Hasan Khan said that circumstances had forced them to stage demonstrations instead of taking classes.
鈥業nstitutional facilities are our right. We have been unjustly deprived, so we are united in this protest. If our demands are not met, peons will not open office gates, classes and exams will be suspended, and offices will remain closed,鈥� he said.
RU officers鈥� association president Moktar Hossain alleged that their rights had been taken away.
鈥楾eachers, officers and employees at every other university enjoy institutional facilities. Only those at Rajshahi University have been deprived. Today, we are giving the university administration a specific deadline. If our demands are not met by then, we will launch a tougher movement,鈥� he warned.
Professor Abdul Alim, president of Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed Jatiyatabadi Teachers鈥� Forum, said that to press home their demands, they would observe a half-day work abstention from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Monday and a full-day strike on Tuesday.
鈥楧uring this period all academic activities, including classes, will remain suspended. Only examinations and emergency activities will continue,鈥� he said.
On January 2, the university administration abolished the ward quota facility for undergraduate admission enjoyed by the children and grandchildren of teachers, officers and other employees.
The administration cancelled the quota pressed by students who confined the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellors and other officials inside the administration building for 12 hours on January 2.
Previously, 5 per cent quota was reserved for the children and grandchildren of the RU teachers, officers and other employees for taking admission to the university鈥檚 undergraduate courses.
