Teachers at Rajshahi University (RU) have temporarily suspended their “complete shutdown” programme, following an assurance from the vice-chancellor to take swift and appropriate action against those responsible for the recent assault on the university’s teachers and officials.

The pro-BNP Nationalist Teachers’ Forum, along with leaders from Zia Parishad and the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (Utab), met Vice Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib at the administrative building this afternoon (25 September).

According to Professor Md Abdul Alim, president of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum, the vice-chancellor gave a verbal commitment to ensure “exemplary punishment” for the culprits of the 20 September incident.

In light of the VC’s assurance and to ensure the normal proceedings of the upcoming Rucsu election, the teachers announced a temporary suspension of their protest.

However, they warned that if the culprits are not punished swiftly and a proper environment for security, education, and research is not restored, the forum will be forced to resume the protest.

The protest, which had brought the campus to a standstill, began on 21 September after a confrontation between teachers, officials, and students over the reinstatement of the dependent quota for staff’s children.

Teachers and officials alleged that some individuals had assaulted the pro-vice chancellor and other faculty members during the clash.

In response, the students had demanded the complete abolition of the quota system, arguing it was against the spirit of the July Uprising.

The university administration had previously suspended the dependent quota amid the student protests and postponed the Rucsu polls from 25 September to 16 October due to the work stoppage.

Yesterday, the officials and employees of Rajshahi University had also suspended their part of the shutdown with a seven-day ultimatum.

VC Naqib said that a solution was being reached through dialogue and expressed hope that the Rucsu election would be held fairly on the new date.