At least 25 people, including five policemen, were injured in a clash between two groups on the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) campus on Sunday, centering the joining of newly appointed Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal, reports UNB.
The unrest began after the government appointed Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new VC of DUET, said witnesses.
Soon after the announcement, a section of university students rejected the appointment and demanded that a vice-chancellor be selected from within DUET itself.
Dr Iqbal was scheduled to assume office on Sunday. From the morning, some students staged demonstrations rejecting the new VC and declared him “persona non grata” on the campus.
The protesters locked the university’s main gate and carried out a “red card” programme demanding cancellation of the appointment, said witnesses.
Meanwhile, another group of students supporting the new VC gathered outside the campus, which led to rising tension between the two sides.
At one stage, a clash broke out between the two groups, leaving at least 25 people injured.
Aminul Islam, Office-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, said they are trying to bring the situation under control.
As DUET is a specialised engineering university, the protesting students argued that teachers from the institution have better understanding and experience regarding its academic and administrative structure.
They further said that appointing a VC from among DUET teachers would help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment.
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