The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondents, Barisal and Patuakhali

Police have been deployed on the Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) yesterday campus noon in the face of mounting students and employees unrest.

Situation on the campus took a turn for the worse when the agitating PSTU employees and other staff members appointed on a a temporary basis and also the students of the Business Administration Management Faculty (BAMF) confined the teachers and deans of different faculties to the administrative block of the university yesterday for the realisation of their demands. They also barred the entry of the acting vice-chancellor into the campus.

The temporary employees of the university, who have been agitating since November 17 for making their jobs permanent and fulfilment of other demands, held sit-in strike and cordoned off the administrative block of the university from 8 am to 2 pm yesterday. They also disconnected the power and water supply lines and disrupted movement of transports within the campus.

The movement of the BAMF students since Monday to press home their 10-point demand aggravated the situation still further. They also joined the fray in cordoning off the administrative block of the university and locked the teachers and deans to their offices yesterday. The angry students gave an ultimatum to the university authorities to meet their demands within a week. Their demands include appointment of adequate teaching staff on a permanent basis, proper evaluation of course curriculum and certificate, laboratory facilities and introduction of masters of business administration course.

Only five teachers are now manning the BAMF on a temporary basis as against the requirement of at least two dozen teachers, according to some students of BAMF. When contacted, acting VC of PSTU Dr.Sultan Ahmed said they were ready to fulfil some of the demands of the students and employees which are within their jurisdiction. But only the University Grants Commission ( UGC) can deal with the demands for making the jobs of employees permanent, appointment of teachers, evaluation of certificates and curriculum and issues.

He further said that they have already informed the Education Ministry and the UGC of the present situation at PSTU, shortage of teachers and lack of other facilities.