Barishal University teachers enforce academic shutdown over promotion dispute

It follows an attempted hunger strike by a colleague over promotion demands

Teaching at Barishal University has ground to a halt as faculty members declared a strike and warned of a full academic shutdown, escalating a dispute over promotion procedures that they say has placed the institution’s academic operations in legal uncertainty.

The decision was announced in a statement signed by 102 teachers on Monday evening, confirming a work stoppage on Tuesday.

They also warned that if their demands are not met, a full academic shutdown will begin on Wednesday.

The move followed a dramatic escalation a day earlier, when Associate Professor Md Jamal Uddin, head of the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, began an indefinite hunger strike outside the vice-chancellor’s office, demanding resolution of promotion-related complications.

After nearly 23 hours without food, he fell ill on Monday afternoon and was taken to hospital, where he later ended his fast due to deteriorating health.

The faculty members then announced the strike and shutdown in solidarity.

Associate Professor Hafiz Ashraful Haque of the Department of Coastal Studies and Disaster Management said normal academic duties had become impossible under the circumstances.

“When a colleague is on hunger strike, it is not possible for others to continue routine responsibilities. The strike will continue until the crisis is resolved,” he said.

In their statement, the teachers cited concerns over University Grants Commission (UGC) directives, warning that promotions and administrative decisions taken without approval under the chancellor-sanctioned statutes could be deemed illegal, placing classes, examinations and degree issuance at risk.

They said the decision to suspend academic activities was taken to avoid endangering students’ futures.

According to the faculty, academic council and syndicate approvals had traditionally governed admissions, examinations, degrees and promotions.

However, recent UGC instructions have created uncertainty over the legality of these processes.

The UGC has directed that revisions to service rules, including appointments, pensions and promotions under university law, must receive approval from the vice-chancellor and syndicate before implementation under an approved statute.