RU Administration assures action against attackers within three days

Al-Amhmud Bijoy: RU Correspondent:  Following demands from journalists, the Rajshahi University (RU) administration has relieved the provost of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall from his post. The administration has also assured that action will be taken within three days against those involved in the attack on journalists.

The decision was announced by RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Faridul Islam after a meeting with protesting journalists and students at the Vice-Chancellor’s conference room on Tuesday.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Faridul Islam said, “Respecting the sentiments of the journalists, we have relieved the provost of Zia Hall. The remaining issues will be addressed and punishment will be ensured following an investigation.”

The protesting journalists said, “We had placed six demands before the university administration. They have accepted one of our demands by relieving the provost of the hall. The administration has sought three days to implement the remaining five demands.”

They further said, “We want the administration to conduct a fair investigation within these three days and ensure punishment, in accordance with university rules, for those involved in the attack.”

The hall provost has been accused of failing to take any immediate effective action after the attack on journalists. The journalists also alleged that although they requested CCTV footage of the incident, the provost refused to provide it. Later, allegations were raised that the important CCTV footage of the attack had been deleted.

According to the journalists, the attack and the subsequent situation took place in the presence of the hall provost, yet he did not take any immediate action against the attackers.

In view of these allegations, the journalists demanded the removal of the provost. However, the hall provost denied the allegation of deleting the CCTV footage, claiming that the CCTV connection had been disconnected due to ongoing renovation work and that no footage had been stored.