Private university unit of Socialist Students’ Front on Thursday demanded resignation of University Of Liberal Arts Bangladesh vice-chancellor Imran Rahman.
Expressing solidarity with the protesting students of ULAB, the student wing also demanded resignation of the university faculty Mahbubur Rahman for terming the protesting students as ‘terrorists’ and also the dissolution of the trustee board.
In a press release, signed by the wing’s organiser Nabin Abtahi, student leaders said that ULAB students were demanding the resignation of the VC and certain faculty members, alongside the abolition of policies that were not student-friendly.
The student wing condemned the actions of the ULAB administration and demanded, ‘Immediate dissolution of the ULAB board of trustees, the resignation of the accused VC and faculty, and the establishment of a democratic and student-friendly environment in the university.’
According to the release, the ULAB administration on December 29, 2024 placed two students on probation for creating graffiti on campus terming the act as a violation of the institution’s code of conduct and gave an ultimatum to remove the graffiti by December 31.
The probation sparked student protests, however, the probation was withdrawn later amid protests of the teachers.
Students launched protest demonstrations raising five-point demand, including freedom of expression, democratic practices on campus and the resignation of the VC. ULAB professor Mahbubur Rahman allegedly termed the protesting students as ‘terrorists’ intensifying the unrest on Wednesday, read the release.
ULAB students under the banner of Students Against Fascism on Wednesday blocked the main entrance to the campus till mid night to press home their demands.
The students lifted the blockade giving a 12-hour ultimatum and said they would begin hunger strike for indefinite period if their demands were not met.
Protesting students have been observing hunger strike since Thursday afternoon.