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Published : 12 May 2026, 09:24 PM
A “shutdown” enforced by a section of teachers seeking their promotion has brought the educational and administrative activities of Barishal University to a standstill.
As all activities including classes and examinations have been suspended for two days, there is now a “dead silence” on the university campus.
The situation has left students spending their days in extreme uncertainty and fear of long “session jams”.
The agitating “Teachers' Society” has declared the vice-chancellor “persona non grata” on the campus after the Syndicate meeting on Sunday failed to decide on the demands of the teachers.
The university's proctor and a syndicate member have already resigned in protest.
Meanwhile, the “resolution” signed by 106 teachers has announced that the “shutdown” will continue until their demands are fulfilled.
They started their “no-work protest” in all university activities on Monday.
Later, the teachers held a meeting and decided to continue the ongoing protests with two demands.
Hafiz Ashraful Haque, associate professor of the Department of Coastal Studies and Disaster Management, defended the ongoing agitation, saying the teachers had placed two key demands at a general meeting on Monday.
“They demanded the cancellation of the initiative to formulate statutes based on the uniform policies adopted in the Syndicate meeting and ensure the promotion of all teachers of the university as per the 2015 policy,” he said.
He also noted that teachers holding different administrative responsibilities have decided to resign en masse.
“In the meantime, signatures have been collected for the resignation letter, which will be formally submitted after collecting everyone’s signatures.”
Earlier on Monday, teachers gathered on the ground floor of the university from around 9am.
By 10am, the registrar reportedly left his office amid what was described as “pressure” from the protesting teachers.
Later, classroom blocks and departmental offices were locked.
By Tuesday morning, the campus stood almost deserted, with students largely absent amid the shutdown.
Several students said academic activities were already under strain.
Mehedi Hasan, an undergraduate student, said the university suffers from chronic shortages.
“There is a shortage of teachers and resources, badly affecting academic activities,” he said, adding that examinations and results were already delayed.
He warned that the disruption would deepen existing academic delays.
“Session jams are already in place and the situation may further worsen following the strike,” he said.
“Our four-year course, which used to end in five years, will now end in six years. Students cannot participate in different exams.”
Another student Nazmul Dhali said, “Everything is closed now due to the strike. There is another month of holidays ahead. Students will lag due to the situation.”
However, history teacher Md Eliyas Hossain said the teachers only wanted to resume classes and were “shocked” by the shutdown over what he described as legitimate promotion demands.
He also accused the vice-chancellor of inconsistency, saying: “He says one thing in the morning and another in the afternoon. We have no trust in him.”
Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Taufiq Alam said promotions under University Grants Commission (UGC) rules would require four to five months due to procedural steps for creating posts.
“But the teachers want promotions now,” he said, adding: “Even if promotions are given as per their demands and the UGC does not approve their revised salary and allowances, who will take that responsibility?”
