Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned of measures if the allegations of graft against Jahangirnagar University Vice Chancellor Farzana Alam are not proven.
Her remarks came on Thursday (Nov 7) during a program for distributing financial help from her own funds to journalists in need.
“Those who have brought allegations against the VC should have definitive proof. If they fail to prove the allegations, they will face consequences,” she said.
“Protests against the VCs are continuing in some universities. Class boycott, vandalism and strikes are ongoing. These are criminal activities, why would the students do this? she added.
Hasina said that although the universities are autonomous, the government provides subsidies.
“We took all necessary measures after Abrar’s death. Then why the protests?” the premier asked before adding, “If classes are boycotted like this, expulsion is a must.”
Hasina said that protests start at the beginning of any development project and conspiracies are at play to destabilize the stable education environment that was created.
For the last 13 days, a number of students and teachers of Jahangirnagar University have been demonstrating on the campus under the banner of “Jahangirnagar against Corruption,” demanding VC Farzana’s resignation on allegations of corruption.
On Nov 5, an attack on the protesters by Bangladesh Chhatra League’s JU unit left 25 people, including eight teachers injured.
Following the attack, the authorities shut-down the university indefinitely and the students were asked to leave the dormitories by 4: 30 pm.
It also led to four teachers of the university resigning from the executive board of Jahangirnagr University Teachers’ Association (JUTA).
VC Farzana, termed the attack as a “mass uprising,” and thanked the BCL men for “freeing” her.