The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Savar

The ongoing teachers' work abstention programme on the Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus have paralyzed the academic activities here putting on extra stress by elongating it into another one-year fresh session jam prompting frustration and mixed reaction among the students.

Fates of thousands of students of the university are now depending on the new administration, to be formed soon with supervision of new government, as they want to see a university, free from session jam as well as ill practices of so called teacher politics.

Classes and scheduled examinations of 26 departments of the university remain suspended from November last year due to indefinite work abstention programme by a section of teachers demanding punishment to the students allegedly involved in assaulting a teacher of the department of Drama and Dramatics.

Several departments of the university have been suffering from marathon session congestion for more than two years due to teachers' politics, regular absence of teachers from department, rampant leave of teachers and irregularities in classes and examinations, an official of examination office told BSS.

Students of the university have already returned to their respective residential halls after month-long vacation for Eid, winter and national election vacations. The university reopened on January 3, but the classes and examinations are yet to resume for teachers' work abstention programme.

The first year admission tests, scheduled to begin from January 3, are now uncertain for the non-cooperation of a section of teachers. Fates of seventy thousand admission seekers are now depending on the mercy of new administration.

"Admission process of most of public universities have already been completed, but the JU authorities are yet to announce the date of admission tests", advocate Mustak Ahmed, a guardian of an admission seekers told this correspondent.

On the other hand, another section of teachers urged the university incumbent authorities to take immediate necessary steps restoring congenial academic atmosphere on the campus considering the life of thousand students.

They also requested the authorities to announce the fresh dates of admission tests. In a statement they called all teachers to resume academic activities by calling off work abstention.

"It is the moral responsibility of every teachers to take classes and assist the university authorities to cut down the prevailing session jam thinking the future of students", said Dr Muniruzzaman.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, JU unit, recently declared to restore congenial academic atmosphere on the campus by ensuring co-existence of all student organizations here for the greater interest of general students.

Results of different departments like-Economics, Government and Politics, Geological Sciences, Environmental Science, Urban and Regional Planning and Anthropology are yet to be published in stipulated time due to non-cooperation of teachers of the departments, an official of examination office of the university told BSS.

"Our honours final examination, scheduled for 2005, was held on January 2008 but the results are yet to be published," students of the English department told this correspondent seeking immediate publication of the results.

"The prevailing session jam of the university snatches two years valuable time from my life putting me into suffocating and embarrassing situation in the campus", an MA student of English department Mizanur Rahman said.

While contracted, the JU VC Prof Dr Mohammed Muniruzzaman told that they are trying to solve the prevailing problems through discussion and consultations with influential and senior teachers and officials of the university. He also sought co-operations from all corners to run the university smoothly.

Asked about the new dates of the admission tests, JU acting registrar Abu Bakar Siddique told reporters the new dates are yet to be finalised. It is now depending on the new administration, expected to be formed soon with the supervision of the new government, he added.