The New Nation - Internet Edition

RU Correspondent

About 200 class four employees of the Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday confined RU acting Vice -Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat to his office for an hour demanding regularisation of their jobs.

The agitating employees, who were stated to have been employed in violation of the university rule, laid siege to the VC office and demanded resignation of RU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat for not confirming their jobs within their given deadline.

During their sit-in demonstration, they held a rally urging the chief adviser and the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman to take necessary steps for confirmation of their jobs.

They also brought out a procession on the campus.

They threatened to resist the upcoming admission test if the university authorities failed to regularize their jobs.

Later, a seven-member team representing the agitating class four employees of the university held talks with the RU authorities at the VC office.

RU Treasurer Prof Dr Mozammel Haque, Registrar Prof Mohammed Shafi, Proctor Enamul Haque, students' advisor Faridul Islam Pintu and senior officials of the law enforcing agencies were present at the meeting.

The RU VC assured the agitating employees that he would meet UGC chairman on Sunday and request him to take necessary steps to regularise their jobs, according to the university sources.

Following the assurance, the employees withdrew their sit-in demonstration at around 3:00pm.

A large number of police were deployed on the campus to avert any untoward incident.

Earlier, the university authorities appointed 544 class three and class four employees against 255 vacant posts in 2004 in gross violation of the university rules. Jobs of about 300 employees were regularised during the rule of the BNP led alliance government.

Later, the High Court stayed the recruitment following filing of a case.