Rajshahi University (RU) Syndicate on Sunday decided to uphold the suspension of Ward quota, after students on Saturday protested seeking permanent cancellation of the quota and some assaulted a teacher and injured a staff.
The RU Officers' Association announced a complete work stoppage from Monday.
An emergency Syndicate meeting, held on Sunday at the residence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saleh Hasan Naqib, came to the decision to uphold the suspension of the quota, or institutional privillage for admission of the children of the university staff.
"Yesterday's announcement regarding the suspension was placed before the Syndicate, and it was supported," Acting Registrar Iftikharul Alam Masud told the media during a briefing.
"Admission under this quota was supposed to begin today (Sunday), but it will not proceed. A final decision will be taken only after discussions with all stakeholders in the relevant bodies," he also said.
The acting registrar also condemned Saturday's incident at the Juberi Building, where the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Main Uddin was physically assaulted. "Such harassment of a pro-VC is unprecedented. The Syndicate has strongly condemned it and formed a five-member probe body. In addition, a judicial inquiry will also be carried out," he added.
Meanwhile, RU Officers' Association President Moktar Hossain expressed disappointment over the Syndicate's stance. "We are frustrated with this decision. Every other university in the country provides this benefit. Since it has been denied here, we will go for a complete shutdown from tomorrow," he declared.
However, he clarified that essential services, such as transport, water supply, electricity, and activities for RUCSU (Rajshahi University Central Students' Union) election, would remain out of the shutdown's purview.
On Saturday, students confined the pro-vice chancellor, proctor, registrar and several others for nearly seven hours inside the Juberi Bhaban.
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