Protesters confine Rokeya VC for 2nd day

A group of officials of the Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur have kept Vice Chancellor AKM Nur-un-Nabi confined to his office for over 24 hours. Altogether 138 staff members have been protesting in front of the VC office since 11am Thursday, demanding regularisation of jobs and payment of overdue salaries. They laid a six-day siege to the VC’s office last year, demanding payment of unpaid dues. The demonstrators said they would not free the VC until their demands were met. ‘We’ve been demonstrating for our legitimate demands for a year,’ Section Officer Obaidur Rahman said on behalf of the agitators. ‘The authorities are yet to regularise our jobs. That’s why we've been forced to start agitation anew. There's no turning back now.’ Acting Registrar Morshed-ul Alam Rony said the university had 540 teachers and staff under the UGC payroll. Former VC Muhammad Abdul Jalil Mia had appointed an additional 333 staff without UGC approval. So far, the incumbent VC has regularised jobs of 195. The demonstrating 138 officials were appointed on interim basis with tenure ending in June last year, according to bdnews24.com.