Students lock Begum Rokeya University physical education office demanding director's removal
Students have padlocked the physical education office at Begum Rokeya University (BRU) in Rangpur, demanding the removal of its director. As the demand was not met within the set time, they locked the office, located in the university's administrative building, at noon on Sunday (15 November).
The Begum Rokeya University Sports Association (BRUSA) and general students took part in the programme. Earlier, a 12-hour ultimatum had been issued from BRUSA's Facebook page demanding the director's removal by 12 noon today.
The students allege that instead of appointing a teacher as director of an important department like physical education, an officer has been given the responsibility. They have been expressing dissatisfaction over this for a long time.
Last week, the students also submitted a memorandum to the university's vice-chancellor demanding the officer's removal.
After locking the office, BRUSA president Monibur Rahman Mitu said: 'We contacted the administration. But they did not give us the result we hoped for. Even after speaking today, the administration did not contact us. We had set a deadline beforehand. As that time has passed, we have locked the physical education office.'
On the matter, the university's Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Ferdous Rahman said: 'No decision has been taken yet. If a decision is taken, it will be informed.'
Notably, on 26 September the university administration appointed Md Mamdudur Rahman, deputy librarian of the central library and information centre, as director of the physical education department. Students have been expressing anger since his appointment and demanding his removal.
The students also say the director's name has come up as one of the accused in a recent incident of a scuffle among officials at the vice-chancellor's office.
