RU students up against fee hike

Hundreds of students have besieged the Administrative Building of the Rajshahi University, demanding a fee hike roll-back and cancellation of evening courses.

They kept administrative officials, including the Vice Chancellor, confined to the building for around one and a half hour until 1pm.

The agitating students then called for a boycott of classes and examinations on Thursday.

They had earlier marched in a procession organised by 'Students against Increased Fees and Commercial Evening Courses’ from the university's central library.

They also held a rally in front of the administrative building.

Several students said they would not accept a fee hike imposed on them to appoint more teachers than advertised for.

They threatened to boycott classes and exams until their demands were met.

Teacher Abu Naser of statistics, Susmita Chakrabarty of folklore and Kazi Mamun Haider of mass communication and journalism sided with the students.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Vice Chancellor Muhammad Mizanuddin said a committee had already been formed headed by the Pro-Vice Chancellor to look into the matter.

"The committee will try to sit with the agitating students and discuss their demands and explain the university's position." He expected a positive result.

About the students' strike, he said, "We will continue our discussion. We have nothing to do if they refuse to join classes and sit for exams."

The students had on Jan 21 gave the authorities seven days to fulfil their demands. But the students held their first rally on Tuesday as the deadline passed.

The varsity syndicate had on Dec 24 decided on two to five-fold hike in different categories of fees, including those for exams, to make up for the salary of teachers appointed in addition to the number advertised.