BRAC students begin indefinite hunger-strike
Seven students of BRAC University (BRACU) began an indefinite hunger strike yesterday (Thursday). They are demanding resignation of the registrar and his associates for allegedly assaulting a teacher and reinstatement of the teacher whose services were terminated.
They also demanded punishment of those responsible, including guards, for the alleged sexual harassment of girl students protesting against the termination order on the law department teacher, Farhan Uddin Ahmed.
The students on fast said they would continue their protest until they get justice.
Hundreds of students yesterday gathered on the campus to protest against the incident. Seven of them, including Kamrunnahar, Noman, Ishtiaq, Akash, Rony and Prema, went on huger strike.
Enamul Haque, a fourth-year student of the School of Law of BRACU, told The Independent: Were continuing our protest since Sunday. Seven students are on hunger strike from today. We want the resignation of the registrar and his three associates. Otherwise, well not move. Besides, we want punishment of those responsible, including guards, for sexually harassing girl students while they were protesting the assault incident on Wednesday. Students were injured as the guards assaulted them.
He said the university authorities are yet to spell out what steps would be taken for the sexual assault of girl students.
Asked why they are not giving time to the probe committee to investigate the matter, Enamul said: The authorities are delaying the matter because they feel that as final exams begin on Sunday, students will call off the protest. But that will not happen. Well continue our movement.
The BRACU authorities suspended all classes for two days, which ended yesterday, to avert any untoward incident.
BRACU sources said they had formed a probe committee, comprising former DU English department chairperson Prof. Syed Manzoorul Islam, Brac University Professor Afsan Chowdhury, its Alumni Association president Tajdin Hassan, and a student representative, to investigate the incident of the alleged assault on the teacher.
It is alleged that three officials of BRACUregistrar Sahool Afzal, assistant registrar Mahi Uddin and a senior co-curricular officer Jabed Raselhad allegedly assaulted Farhaan Uddin Ahmed on Sunday, telling him to resign and forcibly taken away his ID card.
This news spread among students, who immediately protested against the incident and demanded punishment of those responsible.
Farhaan, who completed his LLB from BRACU and LLM from the University of Cambridge, told The Independent yesterday that he did not know the reason for his termination and he wants justice.
They served a notice one week ago, asking me to resign. I submitted a grievance application on Thursday, asking why I have been asked to resign. I didnt get a reply and was forced to put in my papers on Sunday, he said.
He said he is a victim of personal grudge of some persons. I raised questions on irregularities in the university. This hurt the ego of some persons. It may be the reason for the termination, he added.
He doubts that the probe committee will do justice. I wanted an open investigation in an auditorium with all documents, including video footage. But it has not been done. Asked about whether the probe committee has questioned him, Farhaan said: They have not called me yet. I will tell them what they want to know.
When asked will he continue his job if the investigation goes in his favour, Farhaan said: I still dont know what I will do. I will talk to my family members and friends. But I think it would be risky for me to join there again. I dont know what I will do if the investigation goes against me.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Farhaan wrote: I would like to express my solidarity with all the students who are continuing the protest. Even though I am not with them, as their teacher, I will always be concerned about their wellbeing. Therefore, I would urge my students not to do anything that disrupts or risks their health, safety or education.
