Bangabandhu University shuts down amid student protests

The authorities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University or BSMRSTU in Gopalganj have shut down the university until Oct 3 amid student protests to demand resignation of the vice-chancellor.

Gopalganj Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 Sept 2019, 10:59 AM
Updated : 21 Sept 2019, 10:59 AM

Students were told to move out of hostels by 10am on Saturday after the university authorities declared leave until Oct 3.

“The university has declared the closure to bring the situation under control," said Nuruddin Ahmed, the university registrar.

Protests erupted at the university after Fatema Tuz Zinia, a second-year student of law department and a reporter of a daily, was suspended over a Facebook post on Sept 11.

The university authorities later withdrew the suspension order amid widespread protests and criticism. However, a group of students continued to protest on the campus in front of the university’s administrative building and outside the main gate, calling for the VC’s resignation for his alleged irregularities and corruption.

Protesters claimed that the food deliveries to the hostels were suspended from Friday night while electricity and water supply were cut from Saturday morning. They were later attacked by outsiders leaving at least 20 injured, they said.

The registrar declined to comment on the attack on students.

All entrances, including the main gate of the university, have been shut down and traffic movement on the campus has been suspended, according to the protesters.

RAB and police have been deployed to maintain law and order on the campus.

"Everything is calm and in control now," said Sadar Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sanowar Hossain.