Authorities closed Pabna University of Science and Technology until September 30 as the students went on a rampage on the campus early yesterday demanding solution to the nagging power crisis in its dormitories, reports UNB from Pabna. The decision came from an emergency meeting held at the administration building yesterday morning, Pabna University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor Prof Dr Al-Nakib Chowdhury told the news agency.
The university was declared closed from Sunday and the students were asked to vacate their dormitories by 5pm yesterday and they already started leaving the halls, he said. The Eid-ul-Azha vacation was supposed to start on September 7 but it now begins on August 28 due to security reasons, ice-chancellor Prof Dr Al-Nakib Chowdhury added. Witnesses said some students of different residential halls went a rampage at the academic building, medical centre and cafeteria early yesterday demanding an immediate solution to electricity crisis. They vandalised two microbuses and one ambulance, a minibus and a pickup and set fire to three other vehicles. Later, police and Rab members rushed in and brought the situation under control. Talking to reporters, Pabna University of Science and Technology proctor Awal Kabir said he and some teachers were assaulted by the agitating students when they tried to resist them.