Rajshahi University teachers suspend strike after VC’s assurance

Teachers Forum says next steps depend on university’s response to demands

The Nationalist Teachers Forum has suspended the ongoing full-day strike at Rajshahi University demanding punishment for those responsible for assaulting teachers, officers, including the vice-chancellor and proctor.

The announcement came on Thursday afternoon from Abdul Alim, president of the university chapter of the forum, during a press conference at Buddhijibi Chattar.

He said: “Earlier in the day, a meeting was held at the call of the vice-chancellor, where the forum’s leadership, along with teachers from the Zia Parishad and UTAB participated.

“The vice-chancellor assured that proper action will be taken against the guilty. Therefore, we are temporarily suspending the programme in the interest of the RUCSU election.”

Asked if the strike would resume before the student elections, Alim said: “We are calling off our programme for now to keep the RUCSU process smooth and uninterrupted.

“Whether we announce further action will depend entirely on how the university administration responds to our demands. The next step will be based on their actions.”

The strike followed Saturday’s scuffle between students and teachers during protests against the reinstatement of a “dependent quota”.