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The education ministry has removed Barishal University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Sucharita Sharmin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Golam Rabbani, and Treasurer Md Mamun Or Rashid from their posts following days of student protests.
They have been relieved of their administrative duties and allowed to return to their academic positions.
Until a permanent appointment is made, Prof Md Taufiq Alam of Rajshahi University’s Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has been given charge as interim vice-chancellor of the university.
The ministry announced these decisions through separate notifications issued on Tuesday, bdnews24.com reports.
ASM Kasem, senior assistant secretary of the University Wing under the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry, also confirmed the development to bdnews24.com.
Students protesting at the university brought out a joyous procession upon hearing the news of VC Sucharita’s removal.
Sujoy Biswas Shuvo, a student of the soil science department, said, “We brought out a celebratory procession as our one-point demand has been fulfilled.
"We ended the hunger strike and blockade after the notification was issued."
Bandar Police Station chief Rafiqul Islam said vehicular movement on the highways became normal after 9pm as the students cleared the roads.
Earlier in the day, around 5:00 pm, a group of students had blocked the Barishal-Patuakhali and Barishal-Bhola highways demanding the VC’s removal, causing severe traffic congestion.
The blockade followed a protest plan announced the previous day during a solidarity rally and sit-in by teachers, students, officers, and staff.
On Monday night, a group of students began a hunger strike, which continued until their demands were met Tuesday evening.
Earlier on Tuesday, students had issued two deadlines—first at 2:00 pm, then at 4:00 pm—for the authorities to act.
When no action was taken, they moved to block the highways at 5:00 pm.
The protest dates back to May 6, when students sealed off all administrative buildings of the university, accusing the VC of rehabilitating “accomplices of fascists”.
At the time, they claimed they had submitted a 22-point list of demands six months earlier, but none had been implemented.