Chittagong, Jan 18 (bdnews24.com) – The Chittagong University remained locked down on Sunday as BCL continued their siege of the campus for a second day, demanding resignation of the vice chancellor.
Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders said they would continue their movement until their demand was met.
Classes were suspended and students were thin on the ground, as the BCL activists kept the main entrance of the university as well as faculty and administrative buildings locked since Saturday. They were also holding rallies and had taken up positions at the railway station since Sunday morning.
Vice chancellor M Badiul Alam said he would not resign in the face of such a movement.
Terming the demand by the BCL "irrational", he told bdnews24.com Chhatra League had no right to press any such demand or make such a decision.
"There is no question of my resigning in the face of their demand."
"The government has asked me to continue with my duties," said Alam, adding that he hoped the government would take measures soon against those responsible for the campus crisis.
The VC said he had spoken to education minister Nurul Islam Nahid about the crisis.
"The education minister did not give me any direction on resignation and asked me to remain in my post," he said.
CU's BCL general secretary Md Ershad Hossain told bdnews24.com that they were making their demand "peacefully".
"But we will maintain siege of the campus till our demand is met."
He said the BNP-Jamaat backed VC had failed to ensure the co-existence of all student bodies and their security on campus.
Proctorial body coordinator Md Manzur Morshed said that the BCL activists had brought the campus to a standstill.
"But no untoward incident has occurred so far," he said at midday.
Manzur said they were trying their utmost to bring the situation under control.
"The proesting students and police had been asked to remain patient," he said.
BCL clashes with Jamaat-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir had ignited the situation the previous day.
Chhatra League activists said university authorities had failed to act against violence by Shibir activists who have long had a stronghold on the CU campus.
BCL laid siege to the main entrance and university buildings including the VC's home and registrar's office on Saturday.
They lifted siege on the VC's residence Saturday evening, but held to a 48 hour ultimatum for Alam's resignation. Police later rescued the registrar.
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