SUST
SUST students suspend movement after meeting with ministers
The students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have suspended their movement on Saturday following a meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni.
They urged the university authorities to resume the classes and examinations.
The students made the announcement at 7 pm at a press briefing on the SUST campus.
“The meeting with the education minister and the deputy education minister was successful and as the minister has assured us of fulfilling all our demands, we’re suspending the movement for now. We’ll be waiting to see our demands are met,” said Mohaiminul Islam Raj, spokesperson of the protesting students.
The students have discussed their six-point demand and some proposals for the overall development of all the universities of the country, he said.
Also read: SUST VC finally apologises over cop attack on students
“We’re urging the university authorities to resume classes and examinations from Sunday,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Vice-Chancellor of SUST Farid Uddin Ahmed expressed regret over the police action on protesting students on January 16.
“I express my sincere sympathy to all of those, including students, teachers and staff injured in the unwanted incident on that day,” he said in a press statement.
On Friday, regarding the student’s demand of VC’s resignation Dipu Moni said it will be placed before the President as he is the Chancellor of the university, holding the power to appoint and remove someone from the post of VC.
Regarding the two cases filed against the protesting students, she said arrangements will be made to withdraw those cases as soon as possible.
Also, the mobile banking accounts and numbers of students that were shut during the protest will be reactivated within a few days, said Dipu Moni to the protesting students at the meeting.
Also read: Removal of VC up to President Hamid: Dipu Moni to SUST students
Dipu Moni also assured that proper treatment will be provided to Sajal Kunda who was injured in police firing and a government job appointment for him, said the students at the briefing.
The students resumed their protests on Wednesday after their demand for the removal of VC was not met. They are now calling for the resignation of the new proctor.
SUST Proctor Md Alamgir Kabir was relieved from his position on Thursday and replaced by Associate Professor Md Ishrat Ibne Ismail of the English department.
The protests began in the middle of January. And over two dozen SUST students who went on fast unto death ended their strike on January 26. They broke the fast after former SUST Prof Zafar Iqbal offered them water to drink.
The students embarked on the hunger strike on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of the VC over the police crackdown on their fellows.
The strike was launched after police swooped on the protesting students, charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets. On the other hand, the police had filed a case against 300 unnamed protesting students.
The alleged attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building, and it had left 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and cops.
Zafrin Ahmed, a provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
She later resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Dipu Moni in Sylhet to diffuse SUST crisis
A three-member ministerial team, led by Education Minister Dipu Moni, arrived in Sylhet Friday morning to hold talks with the protesting students of the coveted Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
The SUST students resumed their protests Wednesday, after their demand for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed was not met.
Apart from Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed are part of the team, that's slated to hold meetings with the students, teachers and different SUST organisations between 4pm and 7pm.
Also read: Dipu Moni to visit SUST Friday as protests resume
Their aim is to diffuse the ongoing crisis on the university campus, UNB has learnt. The three ministers will depart for capital Dhaka on a late-night domestic flight.
SUST 'problems' to be solved soon, but VC's removal 'a different matter'
The problems of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) students in Sylhet will be solved soon, said Education Minister Dipu Moni Wednesday.
However, the minister said the resignation or removal of the vice-chancellor (VC) is a different issue. "If one VC leaves, another one will come."
"The solution to students' problems does not depend on whether a VC stays or not. So the problems need to be solved," Dipu told the media during a press briefing at her residence Wednesday.
The minister said she wants to solve the problems, including accommodation and food quality issues, facing the students. "I am also ready to sit with the students whenever they want, as they are physically and emotionally exhausted now."
The education minister said the students' movement was logical. "But the police attack on the students was unacceptable as many students got injured."
Asked about the resignation of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed, the sole demand of the students and they would also say their sole problem, the minister said, "There are various processes for the removal of the VC. The VC has been appointed by the president, who is the chancellor of the university. We will see what we can do about it after solving the students' problems."
She said the cases filed against the protesting students during the movement will not affect their future. "I will talk about the withdrawal of the cases."
"We got a chance to look into the problems (of students) through what happened at SUST. This is not just their problem alone, as all public universities are facing residential and food crises. We want to move forward by solving all the problems," the minister said.
READ: 5 ex-SUST students granted bail
Meanwhile, the five former students of SUST were granted bail on Wednesday evening. The alumni were arrested from Dhaka, on the charge of sending money to the protesting students at the university.
Meanwhile, over two dozen SUST students who went on fast unto death ended their week-long hunger strike on Wednesday.
The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of the SUST vice-chancellor over the police crackdown on their fellows.
Around 10.20am on Wednesday, the students broke their fast after former SUST Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal gave them water to drink.
READ: Police attack on SUST students: Zafar Iqbal criticizes teachers for their role
The eminent writer and his wife Yasmeen Huq, also a former SUST teacher, came to the university in Sylhet from Dhaka around 4am and met the protesting students.
Police attack on SUST students: Zafar Iqbal criticizes teachers for their role
Eminent writer and former professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Md Zafar Iqbal has expressed annoyance over the role of the university teachers during the police attack on protesting students.
"It’s very discouraging when police attacked the students, the teachers didn’t come forward…they should’ve come forward to save them. Not a single teacher did it. There’s no reason for a teacher to be so spineless," Zafar Iqbal said.
He said this while talking to reporters after the students broke their hunger on Wednesday.
Addressing the protesting students, he said, "The young generation of Bangladesh is behind you. All people are behind you. Get well soon. Set an example. Other universities in Bangladesh will learn from the example."
Regarding the demand for removal of VC Farid Uddin, he said, "The government has said they’ll accept the demands and the demands include VC’s removal."
But the government also has its own technical issues, political issues, for which they may follow a process, he said, adding the government removed the VC of Gopalganj in one way and removed another VC in another way.
"So it’s their business. My primary concern was whether I could get the students out of the hunger strike."
READ: SUST students end hunger strike
In response to a question whether outsiders had been fueling the movement, Zafar Iqbal said, "I have seen they’re ordinary students. There’s no other ambition in them. Police attacked them so ruthlessly. So, there’s resentment in their minds. That’s why they’re carrying out this movement. Their demand is 100% logical."
Zafar Iqbal said, "When I retired three years ago, I wrote a letter to the VC. In the letter, I said a lot of things. I wrote there clearly that if you don’t do this, the anger that the students have now will burst into protests. My words have come true."
Around 10.20am on Wednesday, the students broke their fast after former SUST Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal gave them water to drink.
The eminent writer and his wife Yasmeen Huq, also a former SUST teacher, came to the university in Sylhet from Dhaka around 4am and met the protesting students.
The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over police crackdown on their fellows.
Three days later, three more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike.
The strike was launched after police swooped on the protesting students, charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets. On the other hand, police filed a case against 300 unnamed protesting students.
The alleged attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building, and it had left 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and cops.
Zafrin Ahmed, a provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
She later resigned from her post, citing health issues.
READ: Administration moves to shut down SUST protest: 5 alumni booked for financially backing movement
Provost Zafrin's removal was one of the initial demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now spread to the general students as well.
SUST students end hunger strike
Over two dozen students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) who hadn't eaten in seven days ended their hunger strike on Wednesday.
The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over police crackdown on their fellows.
Around 10.20am on Wednesday, the students broke their fast after former SUST Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal gave them water to drink.
The eminent writer and his wife Yesmeen Huq, also a former SUST teacher, came to the university in Sylhet from Dhaka around 4am and met the protesting students.
Read: SUST teachers’ association urges govt to probe ‘police action’ on students
“We met a high-level delegation at our residence over the issue and they assured us of meeting your demands. What you want will be fulfilled,” Prof Zafar told the protesting students.
"Life is so precious. Why do you want to sacrifice your life for one person? It’s just not acceptable. You have promised me before the media to break your fast. So do it," he told the students.
Prof Zafar also condemned the arrest of five alumni of SUST for allegedly sending money to the protesters at the university.
"I got Tk 10,000 for a write-up on the occasion of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary. I will give you the money. Now let the police arrest me," he told the protesting SUST students.
Administration moves to shut down SUST protest: 5 alumni booked for financially backing movement
As part of a series of coordinated moves since Monday to quell the unrest at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet, a case has been filed against five former students for allegedly sending money to the students’ movement demanding their VC's removal.
The case was filed at AMP's Jalalabad police station on Tuesday night, confirmed OC Nazmul Huda Khan.
They were arrested from different areas of Dhaka on Monday and Tuesday.
The arrestees are Reza Nur Moin, 31, son of Moin Uddin of Bogura district, Habibur Rahman, 26, son of Matier Rahman Khan, Nazmul Sakib, 32, son of Mizanur Rahman of Khulna district, AKM Maruf Hossain, 28, son of Mosharraf of Mirpur in Dhaka and Foysal Ahmed, 27, son of Sadiqul Islam.
READ: Long march from Dhaka to Sylhet Wednesday in support of SUST students
All the arrestees were taken to Sylhet’s Jalalabad Police Station for interrogation, said police.
A team of CID took them there around 6 pm and handed them over to police, said Nisharul Arif, Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP).
It was clearly part of a series of moves taken by the administration to force the students into ending the protest by starving it of sustenance -for all the amount of passion and courage the protesters have shown, any movement to survive needs financing, among other things.
With the move against the 5 former students, the authorities have not just moved to cut off their funding. It was in addition to making 6 mobile financial services and banking accounts the students were using to collect the funds inaccessible anyway, and so the arrests are likely meant to serve as examples for others not to step forward in support of the movement.
Also on Monday it became known that the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, which was voluntarily providing much-needed medical services to the students on hunger strike from January 19, had informed them that they would no longer be doing so. The revelations had come at the end of a day when surprisingly, there was no contact between the students and the government - specifically the department of Education Minister Dipu Moni, who till Sunday had expressed an overt willingness to engage with the students.
But now it seems the government would prefer to follow a scorched earth policy with the students till they are forced to yield. Whether they will is another matter.
The students embarked on a fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over a police crackdown on its students.
The students vowed to continue with their hunger strike till the VC quits.
The hunger strike was launched on January 19 by 24 students and later one of them had to leave due to family obligations. On January 22, three more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike
The strike was launched after police swooped on the protesting students, charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets.
READ: 5 ex-SUST students held in Dhaka as impasse continues
The alleged attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building, and it had left 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and cops.
Zafrin Ahmed, a provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
She later resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Provost Zafrin Ahmed’s removal was one of the initial demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now spread to the general students as well.
Day 7 of hunger strike: Medical support for protesting SUST students withdrawn
The free medical support for the protesting students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has been withdrawn.
According to the students, the mobile phone numbers of some of the protesters -- specifically those used for mobile financial services -- have also been deactivated.
The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST vice-chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over police crackdown on the varsity students.
“A medical team from Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College that had been voluntarily providing services to those on hunger strike from January 19, withdrew their services on Monday night,” said the protesting students at a press meet on Tuesday morning.
Also read: SUST protest: Proctor-led team fails to reach food, medicines to embattled VC
Most of the 27 students on hunger strike are suffering from low blood pressure, low blood sugar levels and convulsions, and the sudden withdrawal of the medical support could pose serious risks to their health, they said, quoting a senior hospital doctor.
However, a doctor arrived at the protest site on his own later in the morning to offer medical support to the students.
The students also expressed their displeasure over the suspension of mobile phone services of a few protesters.
A total of six Rocket, Nagad, bkash and bank accounts have become inaccessible. The phone numbers used to access them have been seemingly disabled.
“When we contacted the customer care centres of our mobile operators, we were told to get in touch with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC),” said Ariful Islam, one of the protesting students.
SUST protest: Proctor-led team fails to reach food, medicines to embattled VC
The agitating students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Monday prevented a team, led by its proctor, from taking food to the vice-chancellor who been confined to his residence.
In the evening Proctor Alamgir Kabir, an associate professor, first went to the students to try to persuade them to end their fast-unto-VC’s resignation protest. The students refused to break the fast and instead locked into an argument with the official team.
Later the team tried to get into the VC’s residence with food, beverages and medicines but it failed to go through the human chain surrounding the place, witnesses said.
READ: SUST unrest: Students won’t ‘leave campus’ until VC resigns
The proctor said they were concerned about the health of the VC and other teachers trapped inside the residence. One of them already fell ill, he said adding that the VC also has heart disease and his medicines have almost run out.
“If we could get in, we could manage to get him some medicines. But there is way now,” he said
Meanwhile, at 3.30 pm on Monday, Iliasur Rahman Ilias, councillor of ward 6 of Sylhet City Corporation and Mokhlesur Rahman Kamran, councillor of ward 9 went to visit the VC with foods but they had to return back from the gate because of students’ protest.
A group of students of have been on hunger strike for the sixth day Monday with several of them hospitalised as they fell sick.
The students vowed to continue the hunger strike until SUST VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed resigns.
The hunger strike was launched on January 19, three days after police swooped on the protesting students charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets.
The attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building.
The clash left at least 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel.
A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
READ: SUST teachers’ association urges govt to probe ‘police action’ on students
She has since the resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Provost Zafrin Ahmed’s removal was one of the initial demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now spread to the general students as well.
Although there was an hour-long virtual meeting between Education Minister Dipu Moni and the protesting students early Sunday, no solution is in sight yet to break the protracted standoff on the campus.
After the meeting, the students remained stuck to their previous decision not to break the fast until he steps down, representatives of the dissenting students told UNB.
They claimed that no discussion was held at the meeting over the VC’s removal or sending him on leave.
The students said they want to continue the discussion but they will not break the fast.
Dipu suggested the students submit their demands in a written form and then she will go for the next step.
Meanwhile, the University Teachers Network held a symbolic hunger strike to express solidarity with the protesting students demanding the resignation of the embattled VC on Monday.
Teachers gathered in front of Aparajeyo Bangla monument from 12 PM to 3 pm.
The teachers’ association of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) urged the government to form a neutral committee to investigate the police action on protesting students on January 16.
The association said this after a meeting at the central auditorium of the university on Sunday.
The teachers demanded the government take actions against the accused after the investigation.
The association announced a four-point charter of demands from the teachers to solve the ongoing unrest on the campus.
They sought the government's assistance to do what it takes to break the hunger strike of the protesting students.
The association said the government has the jurisdiction over the vice-chancellor’s resignation but it urges an immediate step in this regard.
It also urged not to take any violent actions against the students.
SUST unrest: Students won’t ‘leave campus’ until VC resigns
The hunger strike by some students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) demanding the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation entered the sixth day on Monday with no sign of ending the stalemate in sight.
On Sunday afternoon, four more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike taking their total number to 27.
The unrest at the university deepened on Sunday evening as its protesting students disconnected electricity supply to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence as he refused to step down as per their demand.
On day five of the hunger strike, 15 of the 24 students on hunger strike since Wednesday 3 pm remained admitted to different hospitals in the city.
Earlier, one of the 24 hunger-strikers had to withdraw from the strike due to his relative’s sickness.
The students went on the strike unto death demanding resignation of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed following the police action on the protesting students as his behest on January 16.
The police charged batons, fired sound grenades and shotgun bullets to disperse the protest on Sunday afternoon (Jan 16) while students reacted by throwing brick chips at them. At least 40 people were hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel, during the clash.
Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed was confined to a locked room by the students for three hours before that.
A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial troubles as she reportedly misbehaved with some students on January 13. She has already resigned from her post, citing health issues.
SUST teachers’ association urges govt to probe ‘police action’ on students
The teachers’ association of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) urged the government to form a neutral probe body to investigate the police action on protesting students on January 16.
The association said this after holding a meeting at the central auditorium of the university on Sunday.
The teachers demanded the government take actions against the accused after the investigation.
The association announced a four-point charter of demands from the teachers to solve the ongoing unrest in the campus:
They sought the government's assistance to do what it takes to break the hunger strike of the protesting students.
The association said the government has the jurisdiction over the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation but it urges an immediate step in this regard.
It also urged not to take any violent actions against the students.
The unrest at the University deepened on Sunday evening as its protesting students disconnected electricity supply to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence as he refused to step down as per their demand.
On day five of the hunger strike, 15 of the 24 students on hunger strike since Wednesday 3 pm remained admitted to different hospitals in the city.
On Sunday afternoon, four more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike taking their total number to 27. Earlier, one of the 24 hunger strikers had to withdraw from the strike due to his relative’s sickness.
The students went on the strike unto death demanding resignation of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over the police action on the protesting students as his behest on January 16.
The police charged batons, fired sound grenades and shotgun bullets to disperse the protest on Sunday afternoon (Jan 16) while students reacted by throwing brick chips at them. At least 40 people were hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel during the clash
Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed was confined to a locked room by the students for three hours before that.
A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial troubles as she reportedly misbehaved with some students on January 13. She has already resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Zafrin’s removal as the provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the principal demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now escalated to the general students as well.