Fourteen students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj have been show caused for taking part in a protest demanding fair paddy prices for farmers.
The university authorities issued the notice on May 30 ordering the students to explain within seven days why they carried ‘instigative anti government and anti administration placards and festoons.’
“You have been intentionally, without permission from the administration involved in carrying anti-administration placards and festoons and giving provocative speeches and protesting before any other university,” university registrar Dr Md Nuruddin Ahmed wrote in the notice.
“It is against the university’s rules. You have been asked to state within seven days why disciplinary action against you shouldn’t be taken,” the notice read.
The students who received the notice couldn’t fathom being show caused for taking part in protest to ensure fair prices of paddy for the farmers.
Some, however, weren’t surprised and said that students had to face similar notices for speaking up against sexual harassment.
“If the students can’t speak up against this issue who will?” asked a student who has been served with the notice.
He added that he hadn’t been involved with the organisation of the protest and had just take part.
“I don’t know why I’m being served with a notice 15 days later. We won’t be able to say anything until the university re-opens,” he said.
The university correspondents claim that authorities have tried to stop them from publishing news of the protests and subsequent notices.
One such journalist, wishing to remain anonymous said that they have been asked to run any news by the authorities before publishing it.
University Proctor Ashiquzzaman, however, said that the claims weren’t true.
Responding to queries on the matter, he said, “The reason they have been show caused is because they went against the administration without the university’s permission.”
He added that the placards had provocative slogans which were “against the administration and government.”
Saying that the university is funded by the government, he added, “Students have to take permission before doing anything on campus.”
He said that no disciplinary actions have been taken against those students yet.