Bangladesh Agricultural University protests confine VC among over 200 teachers

Veterinary and animal husbandry faculty students have continuously pressed for a “combined degree”

Students at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh have resumed protest by besieging the vice-chancellor and over 200 teachers as their demand for a “combined degree” was not met.

As part of their ongoing movement, students from the veterinary and animal husbandry faculties locked teachers inside the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Auditorium since Sunday afternoon, leaving them confined.

According to students, they have been protesting for a combined degree for nearly a month. Amid the protests, the teachers held an Academic Council meeting to discuss the issue.

The university authorities announced that a committee had been formed to create a curriculum for a combined degree following the meeting.

They said students would be admitted into the combined course starting from the next session. Those who were admitted this year could choose between a veterinary, animal husbandry, or combined degree.

The students, however, have been demanding “one profession, one degree” instead of what they described as “three degrees”. The students blockaded the teachers as no resolution to their demands was reached.

Protesters Kiam Junaid from the animal husbandry faculty and Md Sohag from the veterinary faculty said the movement will intensify if an emergency notification about their demands is not issued.

Prof Aminul Islam of the veterinary science faculty said, "The 60-year-old problem won't be solved without introducing a combined degree. The students are angry as the discussion resulted in three degrees instead of a combined one.”