ULAB students on hunger strike demanding VC's resignation
The agitating students are demanding Imran’s resignation based on the allegations that he has insulted the spirit of the July uprising and harassed the students who had taken part in the movement
A group of students from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) started a hunger strike today (2 January) in front of the institution's main campus on Beribadh Road at the capital's Bosila, demanding the immediate resignation of Vice-Chancellor Imran Ahmed.
The students began their hunger strike after 1pm, during which they chanted various slogans. They continued to demonstrate until the filing of the report at 8pm.
The agitating students have been demanding Imran's resignation since Wednesday evening on the allegations that he has insulted the spirit of the July uprising and harassed the students who had taken part in the movement.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
On Wednesday, agitating students staged a sit-in at the entrance of the main campus with the same demands.
The ULAB authorities recently punished two students for drawing graffiti on the university premises. The punishment was withdrawn later.
They alleged that the ULAB authorities are bypassing the students' demands and continuing their fascist behaviour through harassment and punishment of students for drawing graffiti, ruining the student-centric environment.
The five demands of the students include the immediate withdrawal of the trustee board members who were the allies of the fascists and are accused of corruption, and the resignation of all the members of the disciplinary committee and proctorial body taking responsibility for their anti-student decisions.
The other demands are bringing reasonable reforms to ULAB's code of conduct after taking opinions from everyone involved and eliminating all the rules and regulations that take away freethinking, sharing of views, and individual freedom.
Vice-chancellor's statement
The university's vice-chancellor issued a statement on Tuesday that reads, "ULAB authorities recently issued a mild warning (disciplinary probation) to two students for drawing graffiti on September 4 inside the campus without any notice or consultation with the wider community. However, the students were allowed to continue their academic activities fully and would not face any other repercussions.
"The graffiti has not been erased and we have no plans of erasing it.
"We have received a letter of concern from some of our faculty. Out of respect for them, and for the greater good of our students, we are withdrawing the disciplinary probation on the two students."
