DU Senate names VC panel

The members of Dhaka University Senate yesterday nominated a three-member panel for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor amid demonstration of a group of students.

The three in the panel are VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Treasurer Prof Kamal Uddin and Prof Abdul Aziz, who was once the pro-Awami League Blue panel convener, said a press release.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The panel was endorsed at a special session after it was proposed by Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam and supported by Prof Md Rahmat Ullah, said senate member Prof AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan.

“Out of 55 senate members, 48 attended the senate session and the panel was finalised as there was no other panel proposal,” he told reporters following the hour-long senate session, held at the DU Senate Building.

Students trying to break through the gate of the building, protesting the absence of students' representatives in the senate and demanding Ducsu polls. Photo: Collected

The tenure of the incumbent VC, Prof Arefin, will expire on August 24.

As per the Dhaka University Order, 1973, the VC shall be appointed by the chancellor for a period of four years from a panel of three teachers. He shall be nominated by the university senate, and be eligible for a re-appointment for a second term.

About half an hour before the session began at 4:00pm, around 40 students belonging to left-leaning organisations took position in front of the Senate Building.

The students demonstrated till about 5:00pm, demanding the long-pending election to Dhaka University Central Students Union (Ducsu). They also alleged that students are being deprived of their rights because of the absence of student representatives in the senate.

As the students attempted to enter the Senate Building, a group of teachers allegedly pushed them, causing a brief scuffle.

Masud Mahdi, one of the demonstrators, said as per the relevant law, there should have been elected student representatives in the senate. “That's why we are demanding Duscu election and our demand is logical.”

He added that some teachers attacked the demonstrators without any provocation.

Denying it, DU Proctor Prof AM Amzad Ali said the students were trying to enter the building forcibly while teachers tried to calm them.

The pro-BNP-Jamaat White Panel boycotted the meeting.