The government on Monday formed a two-member inquiry commission to investigate the stalemate at Jahangirnagar University brewed over the demand for the resignation of the vice-chancellor, Anwar Hossain.
The commission comprised of University Grants Commission member Muhibur Rahman and education ministry joint secretary Mohammad Ahsanul Jabbar was asked to submit its report in 15 working days, said an education ministry release.
The commission was formed to find out the ways to overcome the ongoing crisis and to ensure proper educational atmosphere at the university, said the release.
Normal classes and exams at the university resumed on August 25 after the education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, assured a group of agitating teachers of setting up an inquiry commission.
The classes and exams had faced an unscheduled closure of four days as a group of teachers teamed up as General Teachers Forum had confined Anwar to his office for an indefinite period on August 21 demanding his resignation.
They suspended their programme for 15 days after a meeting with the education minister on August 24 when the minister assured the teachers of looking into their demand after an investigation by an inquiry commission.
The General Teachers Forum also issued a statement, signed by 370 teachers, detailing allegations against the vice-chancellor.
The allegations include giving no punishment for assaulting teachers, violating freedom fighter’s quota in admission to the university, appointing incompetent teachers, making harsh comments against teachers to the media, taking no steps regarding the violence that took place on August 1 and February 12, ruining the campus environment, misusing university funds, and forcibly entering the vice-chancellor’s office by ignoring the demonstrations of the teachers.
The Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association since April 27 had demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellor, accusing him of not taking punitive measures against the university unit Chhatra League general secretary Razib Ahmed Rasel for assaulting economics department lecturer Nurul Haqu, also a syndicate member, on April 6.
On July 24, the High Court, in response to a petition filed by four teachers and a student, had directed the university authorities to immediately take necessary steps for the continuation of day-to-day functions of the university.
The Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association, however, called off its agitation programmes on July 30 after the July 24 High Court order but the General Teachers Forum was set up and the agitation continued.
Jahangirnagar University experienced several rounds of movement in the past three years which disrupted academic activities.
Anwar assumed office of the vice-chancellor after his predecessor Sharif Enamul Kabir resigned in the face of protests by students and teachers over ‘irregularities’ and ‘nepotism’ in the appointment of teachers on May 17, 2012.
Anwar was later elected the vice-chancellor through the university senate.
