Unrest at Jahangirnagar University: Where is the end?

As a proud member of Jahangirnagar University, let us draw the attention of esteemed colleagues and beloved students at public universities towards infrastructure development of public universities for academic excellence. Conventionally, a great university foundation with great spaces makes it a decent spot for the understudies to get best instruction. Along these lines, it's significant for university to have great foundation to improve the exhibition of the understudies and improving the education framework. We watch, agitation at public university consistently hampers scholarly condition harshly. For instance, currently at Jahangirnagar University where movement for environment friendly mega development project turns into the movement of Vice-Chancellor’s removal questioning moral rights of top administrator to continue in the office of Vice-Chancellor (VC).

Controversy on bribery

A faction of teachers and students under the banner of “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption”, meanwhile issued an ultimatum on September 18, asking the VC to resign for her alleged link to the bribery allegation. VC Professor Dr. Farzana Islam (first female vice-chancellor of public universities in Bangladesh) assertively consolidated her stand against resignation from the office of vice-chancellor claiming students’ demand as unreasoned and groundless. About the protesters’ demand for judicial inquiry into the allegation, she said, “It is an illogical demand. I can’t do this. Even, I can’t want this.

 The government will take the decision while the judiciary will think about it.” Claiming that she talked to the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education about the alleged corruption, the JU VC said, “they can investigate the issue on the off chance that they feel. I will cooperate with the authorities as much as possible.”

Professor Farzana Islam in her last press briefing on 3rd October 2019 felt it expedient for third party mediation from Honourable Chancellor Office, UGC or the Ministry of Education to arrive at an amicable solution of this disturbance. This speaks about her openness and earnestness to come across the unrest. As a teacher of Politics, we appreciate her two-points proposal: First on her willingness to cooperate with the facts-findings committee if it is commissioned by the UGC or the Ministry of Education then on third party mediation. This speaks about her strong endurance, fairness with quality leadership for taking the momentum of development forward.

We teach our students in the class explaining the beauty of third party mediation stipulated in the Dual Concern Model. The dual model identifies five conflict resolution styles/strategies that individuals may use depending on their dispositions toward pro-self or pro-social goals (assertiveness and empathy). Conventionally, our culture is locked into seeing it only as a competition where the end game is “I win/you lose.” Dual Concern Model contests the option of I win/you lose rather encompasses the style of negotiations between two conflicting parties upholding the spirit of breadth, compassion and firmness.

By seeing disagreement as a creative opportunity, both parties at Jahangirnagar should be affirmative for “win-win” solution (with the spirit of win-win, we want to execute this mega development project for the sake of academic advancement). As VC has come forward with cooperative attitude for resolving the crisis through negotiations involving third party mediator, the protestors should be willing to come forward to resolve the undesirable happenings on our beloved campus.

Like many students, teachers and officials of university, we candidly trust, a dialogue among us will open up a break to resolve the prevailing disturbance what VC Professor Farzana Islam has deliberately said. Honestly speaking, all of we are proud custodians of the achievements of around 50 years’ old Jahangirnagar University. We sincerely expect credible execution of mega project involving fourteen hundred plus crore taka in time to ensure wide-ranging facilities for better education.

A culture of tolerance, empathy and togetherness is must to leverage our collective efforts for taking Jahangirnagar University forward to become a ranked university at most punctual. Our esteemed colleagues and dear students will avert sense of non-cooperation for the sake of academic excellence.

Writers are the young faculties of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University. The opinions expressed in the article are the writers’ own. The Independent does not

necessarily agree with their views

 

Unrest at Jahangirnagar University: Where is the end?

As a proud member of Jahangirnagar University, let us draw the attention of esteemed colleagues and beloved students at public universities towards infrastructure development of public universities for academic excellence. Conventionally, a great university foundation with great spaces makes it a decent spot for the understudies to get best instruction. Along these lines, its significant for university to have great foundation to improve the exhibition of the understudies and improving the education framework. We watch, agitation at public university consistently hampers scholarly condition harshly. For instance, currently at Jahangirnagar University where movement for environment friendly mega development project turns into the movement of Vice-Chancellors removal questioning moral rights of top administrator to continue in the office of Vice-Chancellor (VC). Controversy on bribery A faction of teachers and students under the banner of Jahangirnagar Against Corruption, meanwhile issued an ultimatum on September 18, asking the VC to resign for her alleged link to the bribery allegation. VC Professor Dr. Farzana Islam (first female vice-chancellor of public universities in Bangladesh) assertively consolidated her stand against resignation from the office of vice-chancellor claiming students demand as unreasoned and groundless. About the protesters demand for judicial inquiry into the allegation, she said, It is an illogical demand. I cant do this. Even, I cant want this. The government will take the decision while the judiciary will think about it. Claiming that she talked to the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education about the alleged corruption, the JU VC said, they can investigate the issue on the off chance that they feel. I will cooperate with the authorities as much as possible. Professor Farzana Islam in her last press briefing on 3rd October 2019 felt it expedient for third party mediation from Honourable Chancellor Office, UGC or the Ministry of Education to arrive at an amicable solution of this disturbance. This speaks about her openness and earnestness to come across the unrest. As a teacher of Politics, we appreciate her two-points proposal: First on her willingness to cooperate with the facts-findings committee if it is commissioned by the UGC or the Ministry of Education then on third party mediation. This speaks about her strong endurance, fairness with quality leadership for taking the momentum of development forward. We teach our students in the class explaining the beauty of third party mediation stipulated in the Dual Concern Model. The dual model identifies five conflict resolution styles/strategies that individuals may use depending on their dispositions toward pro-self or pro-social goals (assertiveness and empathy). Conventionally, our culture is locked into seeing it only as a competition where the end game is I win/you lose. Dual Concern Model contests the option of I win/you lose rather encompasses the style of negotiations between two conflicting parties upholding the spirit of breadth, compassion and firmness. By seeing disagreement as a creative opportunity, both parties at Jahangirnagar should be affirmative for win-win solution (with the spirit of win-win, we want to execute this mega development project for the sake of academic advancement). As VC has come forward with cooperative attitude for resolving the crisis through negotiations involving third party mediator, the protestors should be willing to come forward to resolve the undesirable happenings on our beloved campus. Like many students, teachers and officials of university, we candidly trust, a dialogue among us will open up a break to resolve the prevailing disturbance what VC Professor Farzana Islam has deliberately said. Honestly speaking, all of we are proud custodians of the achievements of around 50 years old Jahangirnagar University. We sincerely expect credible execution of mega project involving fourteen hundred plus crore taka in time to ensure wide-ranging facilities for better education. A culture of tolerance, empathy and togetherness is must to leverage our collective efforts for taking Jahangirnagar University forward to become a ranked university at most punctual. Our esteemed colleagues and dear students will avert sense of non-cooperation for the sake of academic excellence. Writers are the young faculties of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University. The opinions expressed in the article are the writers own. The Independent does not necessarily agree with their views