Tensions heighten on RU campus after scuffle over ward quota

RAJSHAHI, Sept 20: Rajshahi University (RU) plunged into a state of chaos on Saturday afternoon as tensions over reinstatement of the "ward quota" sparked confrontations between students, teachers and administration officials.

The incident unfolded around 5:00pm on the veranda of Juberi Building, where students confronted university authorities, leading to scuffles. At least 10 top officials, including Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Main Uddin Khan, Registrar Prof Iftikharul Alam Masud, Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman, and Public Relations Administrator, were confined by the agitating students.

Earlier on the day, the students locked the residences of two Pro-VCs. As the Pro-VC and the proctor attempted to move towards the Juberi Building, the students followed them, chanting slogans. When they reached the building's veranda, a teacher and a printing press officer tried to intervene, triggering a scuffle between the students and the officials.

Witnesses said students encircled Pro-VC Prof Main Uddin, who was eventually forced upstairs to the second floor of the Juberi Building, only to be confined again on the veranda there. By then, several senior teachers, including Prof Kamal Uddin of the Persian Language and Literature Department and Registrar Prof Masud, also appeared on the scene.

Former student coordinator Salauddin Ammar condemned the administration's stance on what he termed as "a settled issue."

"We have been on peaceful hunger strike since yesterday, but the administration has taken no acceptable initiative. Today's planned attack on us is completely unacceptable. I urge all students to join peacefully. We will not leave the grounds until our demands are met," he said.

The students had been on a hunger strike since Friday afternoon, protesting the conditional reinstatement of the "ward quota" in student admissions.

Several students began the strike at Zoha Chattar in front of the university's administrative building. Despite heavy rain on Saturday morning, they continued their demonstration.

During the strike, two students, Ispahani from the Department of Social Work (2024-25 session) and Ramjanul Mobarak, a master's student of Arabic, fell ill and were taken to hospital.

Asadul Islam, a student of the Department of Sanskrit Language and Literature (2020-21 session) first initiated the strike around 5:00 pm. Later, other students expressed solidarity and joined him.

Talking to reporters, Sajibur Rahman, a student of Islamic History and Culture, said: "We have been sitting here since last night (Friday), under the scorching sun, in the rain, and amid mosquito bites. Yet, nobody came to see us. We will continue (hunger strike) until a solution comes. We had no political agenda, and we still have none. I am here only as a general student."

Sanjida, another student from the Department of Social Work (2024-25 session), said, "My brothers have been enduring rain, heat, and mosquito bites since yesterday (Friday), but no one came forward. When we can't enroll even after scoring 60-65 marks, how do children of university teachers, officers, and staff get admitted with just pass marks? How long will this farce continue in the name of administration?"

"Why are they so insecure about their children? Don't they have confidence that their children can succeed on merit? Every student here is the dearest child of their mother, yet they are being treated unfairly. Is there no one to see this?"

Around 1:00 pm, university's student adviser, Amirul Islam Konok, visited the students. "I mainly came to inquire about their condition. After talking to them, I realised that they are suffering greatly. That is why I joined their hunger strike as well. Some students have already fallen sick, and we have sent them to the medical centre for treatment," he said.

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