Gopalganj university vice-chancellor resigns

Professor Khondoker Nasiruddin, vice-chancellor of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj, has resigned.

He submitted the resignation letter on Monday afternoon to Abdullah Al Hasan Chowdhury, additional secretary of the Ministry of Education.

"Vice-chancellor Nasiruddin wants to resign from his post. We are reviewing the matter," deputy education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury informed reporters while speaking at the International Mother Language Institute.

Earlier, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh had recommended immediate removal of Professor Nasiruddin from the post of vice-chancellor at the university, after finding allegations of misconduct made against him to be true.  

The commission submitted a probe report in this regard to the education ministry.

On Sunday afternoon, Professor Dr Dil Afroza Begum, a member of the commission and also the probe committee, confirmed submitting the report.

The commission also recommended taking legal action against the vice-chancellor.

On September 24, the education ministry asked the University Grants Commission to form a probe committee to investigate several allegations brought against the Nasiruddin. 

In response, the commission formed a five-member committee the following day, led by Professor Dr Md Alamgir. Other committee members included commission members Professor Afroza and Professor Dr Sazzad Hossain, commission Director (Public University Management Division) Md Kamal Uddin and Deputy Director Mauli Azad.

They visited the university on September 25 and 26, and spoke to vice-chancellor Nasiruddin, which agitated students, teachers and officials of the university. 

The team found evidence of misconduct and corruption against him.

Previously, the vice-chancellor had suspended six students over a Facebook post on September 7, following which he faced harsh criticism on social media and protests spread in several public universities.

Since then the students have been staging demonstrations on the campus, demanding his removal.  

At least 50 protesting students were injured on September 20 in an attack by some goons allegedly hired by Nasiruddin. 

Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor arranged a press conference on Thursday where he verbally abused the protesting students.

Protesting his comments, the students brought out a broom procession on the campus on September 25.

Other allegations against Nasiruddin include appointing and promoting a number of teachers in violation of university rules. 

Last year, the vice-chancellor was also accused of sexually harassing a woman, who claimed that Nasiruddin was the father of her son.