Dhaka City College in Dhanmondi area of the capital has been closed for 17 days to stop the students’ movement demanding the resignation of the principal and vice-principal.
All academic activities, including class-examinations, of the institute have been suspended at the crucial time of the end of the year, citing ‘inevitable reasons’. Students and parents reacted angrily to the matter. The education life of more than 10,000 students is threatened by the greed of acting principal-vice-principal chair.
On the 28th of last month (October), the students started the movement with a total of 7 points, including the resignation of the acting principal and vice-principal. They complained that acting principal Kazi Mohammad Niamul Haque and vice principal Md. Mokhleshur Rahman has been collecting extra money from the students and doing various irregularities by adopting various arbitrariness, various techniques. That’s why they announced the boycott of class-exams seeking a logical solution to these issues.
Later that day, the acting principal-vice-principal called the students to sit for discussion. A delegation of agitating students took part in discussions with teachers in the ground floor lounge of the college. At this time, several teachers were heard saying that ‘if the principal-vice-principal resigns, we will resign together with 210 teachers’. Later the students presented seven point demands.
The demands are — Principal and vice-principal should be appointed in a systematic way, Suman sir who was expelled should be reinstated within 3 months, Musharraf sir should be reinstated, lies in the name of Kaikobad sir should be withdrawn, Jahangir sir should be expelled by today, Sobhan sir should be expelled, Agitators cannot be tortured with BCL tags.
At that time, the student’s adamant stance on resignation and heated exchange of words demanded their resignation and the teacher came in front of the lounge and blocked the Principal-Vice-Principal and tried to enter inside. Later, the teachers went up to the second floor through the back door after fixing the gate from inside. At that time, the army came and tried to control the situation. Later, when the students wanted to go up to the second floor, the army installed the gate from inside.
In such a situation, Acting Principal Neyamul Haque announced the closure of the college for an indefinite period in a short notice. In it he cited ‘inevitable reasons’ for the leave. The two-line notice said that all classes and examinations of the college will be suspended tomorrow (October 29) due to unavoidable reasons. Exam schedule will be informed later.
The students say that after the mass uprising, the previous principal and vice-principal were removed on charges of Awami League affiliation. After that, Professor Kazi Niamul sat in the chair as acting principal and Md. as acting vice-principal. Mokhleshur Rahman forcefully sat on the chair. With responsibility, they fired several teachers-officers and employees without complaint. As a result, all these victims are living an inhumane life after suddenly losing their jobs.
Meanwhile, the law says that a principal can close the college for a maximum of two days in a year. As such, the acting principal’s arbitrary behavior is clear.
Attempts were made to contact Acting Principal Kazi Neyamul Haque to inquire about the closure of the college. He did not pick up several calls on his mobile phone.
It has been alleged that the then regular principal, Bedar Uddin Ahmed, was forced to resign by holding him hostage. Later Professor Kazi Neyamul Haque of English department of the same college sat in the principal’s chair. The professor of marketing department sat in the chair of the vice-principal. Mokhleshur Rahman. Bedar Uddin filed a writ in the high court in addition to complaining to the concerned ministry and the national university.
On October 27, the High Court Justices Fara Mahbub and Debashish issued the double bench ruling. In the ruling, the court asked why the appointment of Kazi Neyamul and Mokhleshur Rahman should not be declared illegal. Besides, the Vice-Chancellor of the National University and the Director General of the Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MAUSI) have been instructed to investigate and dispose of the petition of former principal Bedar Uddin Ahmed within four weeks.
It is known that according to the instructions of the court, the Vice-Chancellor of the National University. Amanullah Ferdous formed a two-member committee. The committee is headed by the professor of information science and library management department of Dhaka University. Mejbah ul Islam and acting chief engineer of the National University was made a member. Mizanur Rahman. The inquiry committee has already heard the statements of the petitioner and the concerned parties.
In addition to forcing the resignation of the regular principal and vice-principal, Kazi Neyamul fired 16 people including teachers and officials within three months of taking charge. Later, in the face of students’ movement, four people were given back their jobs, but 12 people are still in limbo. Eight teachers including principal and vice-principal and four employees including car driver and peon are among the sacked. These teachers and employees are living an inhumane life as their salaries have been stopped for three months.
Source: timenewsbd