University of Science and Technology, Chittagong

Students threaten to lock all departments from Mar 27

For not giving fine imposed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Students of University of Science and Technology, Chittagong (USTC) yesterday threatened to lock all its departments from Monday if the university authorities do not pay Tk 10 crore to state- exchequer imposed as fine by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

They brought out a procession on the campus and Zakir Hossain road in the city. Later they staged a demonstration in front of USTC gate and came up with the ultimatum.
The students also staged demonstration on Wednesday evening locked the gates of its administrative building and hospital, as the university authorities did not pay Tk. 10 crore to the healthy ministry as fine.
The fine was imposed by the ministry on February 22 as the USTC authorities admitted about 1,104 students violating admission rules.
The health ministry gave them a month's time to pay the fine. The deadline ended on Wednesday. The BMDC will register the students if the university authorities pay the fine.  But the authorities did not pay the fine till Wednesday.
Dr Arif Amin, Treasurer of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and former student of USTC yesterday expressed his solidarity with the students.
“As a former student I have moral support to the movement of the students. BMA also expressed its support to the movement,” he said.
He also said, “BMA is monitoring the matter. We want this problem of students to be sorted out quickly. Realising the importance, the USTC authorities will take decision timely” he further said.
Imran HH Hossain, a student of 25th Batch, said the agitated students restricted the movement of university officials, including pro-VC Nurul Absar, from the morning till afternoon and locked the main gates of the administrative building and the hospital gate around 6:00pm. 
There were 80 patients in the hospital and small gate of the hospital was kept open for their treatment, he added.
 “We have given the ultimatum to the authorities to pay the fine and to ensure our registration,” he said.  
Seikh Md Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police said the agitated students locked the administrative building and hospital gate.
Nurul Absar, Pro-VC of USTC said, “We received a letter through email on Wednesday about the fine. We will take necessary steps regarding it.”
“We are waiting for a decision from Prime Minister. I hope the PM will give a decision on it responding to our application to cut the fine. The problem will be solved within a week,” said the Pro-VC.
 The institution has admitted around 368 students every year against their approval of 75 students in a year in the 25th, 26th and 27th batches, which leads the uncertainty as BMDC refused to give registration of the students were admitted exceeding the permissible number.
On February 08 this year, the students submitted a memorandum to Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, requesting for BMDC's registration.
Then the USTC authorities sat with Ministry of Heath to find out a solution of it.  On February 22 the Ministry of Health fined them Tk10 crore for violating the admission rules and agreed to give registration of the students.
The ministry also gave them one month time to pay the fine as they did not pay the fine in state-exchequer in the stipulated time; the aggrieved students on Wednesday again went into movement.

University of Science and Technology, Chittagong

Students threaten to lock all departments from Mar 27

For not giving fine imposed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Students of University of Science and Technology, Chittagong (USTC) yesterday threatened to lock all its departments from Monday if the university authorities do not pay Tk 10 crore to state- exchequer imposed as fine by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They brought out a procession on the campus and Zakir Hossain road in the city. Later they staged a demonstration in front of USTC gate and came up with the ultimatum. The students also staged demonstration on Wednesday evening locked the gates of its administrative building and hospital, as the university authorities did not pay Tk. 10 crore to the healthy ministry as fine. The fine was imposed by the ministry on February 22 as the USTC authorities admitted about 1,104 students violating admission rules. The health ministry gave them a months time to pay the fine. The deadline ended on Wednesday. The BMDC will register the students if the university authorities pay the fine. But the authorities did not pay the fine till Wednesday. Dr Arif Amin, Treasurer of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and former student of USTC yesterday expressed his solidarity with the students. As a former student I have moral support to the movement of the students. BMA also expressed its support to the movement, he said. He also said, BMA is monitoring the matter. We want this problem of students to be sorted out quickly. Realising the importance, the USTC authorities will take decision timely he further said. Imran HH Hossain, a student of 25th Batch, said the agitated students restricted the movement of university officials, including pro-VC Nurul Absar, from the morning till afternoon and locked the main gates of the administrative building and the hospital gate around 6:00pm. There were 80 patients in the hospital and small gate of the hospital was kept open for their treatment, he added. We have given the ultimatum to the authorities to pay the fine and to ensure our registration, he said. Seikh Md Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police said the agitated students locked the administrative building and hospital gate. Nurul Absar, Pro-VC of USTC said, We received a letter through email on Wednesday about the fine. We will take necessary steps regarding it. We are waiting for a decision from Prime Minister. I hope the PM will give a decision on it responding to our application to cut the fine. The problem will be solved within a week, said the Pro-VC. The institution has admitted around 368 students every year against their approval of 75 students in a year in the 25th, 26th and 27th batches, which leads the uncertainty as BMDC refused to give registration of the students were admitted exceeding the permissible number. On February 08 this year, the students submitted a memorandum to Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, requesting for BMDCs registration. Then the USTC authorities sat with Ministry of Heath to find out a solution of it. On February 22 the Ministry of Health fined them Tk10 crore for violating the admission rules and agreed to give registration of the students. The ministry also gave them one month time to pay the fine as they did not pay the fine in state-exchequer in the stipulated time; the aggrieved students on Wednesday again went into movement.