Peaceful Resolution of Campus Protest at ULAB
A hunger strike by a few ULAB students ended on January 2 evening following the intervention by an emissary of Advisor Nahid Islam.
The protesters had demanded the immediate resignation of the ULAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Imran Rahman, and the reconstitution of the university’s Board of Trustees following the ‘disciplinary probation’ imposed on two students for drawing graffiti inside the campus. The protesters’ hardline actions received an overwhelming rejection from ULAB students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
The episode was sparked on December 29 following the mild disciplinary warning issued to two students for painting graffiti, some related to the July uprising, on September 4 inside the campus without prior notice. ULAB promptly withdrew the warning out of respect for an appeal by a section of faculty and in the greater interest of our students. It also announced that the graffiti would remain.
However, on December 31, about five outsiders entered the campus and spray-painted offensive graffiti attacking the university authorities. The next day, January 1, a small group of students and outsiders blocked the university gate and prevented faculty and staff from leaving the campus till late at night, demanding the VC’s resignation. Despite the hostage-like situation, the university authorities did not call the law enforcement agencies. Instead, the Registrar and senior faculty engaged them in patient dialogue.
On January 1, ULAB’s general students held a rally on campus, expressing their determination to restore normalcy and strongly opposing the protesters’ demands. An independent online poll conducted by the students showed that 88 percent of students wanted Prof. Imran Rahman to continue as the VC.
In the afternoon, following the start of a hunger strike, Adviser Nahid Islam sent a representative for mediation. The emissary, Mr Abdul Hannan Masud, Chief Organiser of the Anti-Discriminatory Students’ Movement, facilitated an agreement between the protests and ULAB authorities. Under the agreement, the UGC or the Ministry of Education will form a committee within 3 working days to investigate the protestors’ demands and VC Imran Rahman will abstain from performing his VC duties until the publication of the committee’s report.
ULAB puts the welfare of the students above all else and never wishes to see any unnecessary disruption to anyone’s academic progress. ULAB also believes in fostering diversity of opinions expressed and exchanged with mutual respect. The university will continue to support all students in line with its principles and values.
