PSTU vice-chancellor, teachers freed after 10 hours of confinement

After keeping them confined for 10 hours, the agitating students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) have let their vice-chancellor and some 50 teachers go.

Around 4:00am today, they let the teachers leave the administrative building, which they had padlocked the previous day -- protesting suspension of 15 students over alleged ragging.

Over 300 third-semester students began demonstrating on campus yesterday morning demanding reversal of the suspensions and later in the day confined VC Prof Dr Harun-Or-Rashid and about 50 teachers.

"We stepped back following assurance that our demand would be met," Jishan, one the protesters told The Daily Star.

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Matiul Islam Chowdhury and Superintendent of Police Mainul Hasan were present at the meeting held between the students and the PSTU administration. 

PSTU Public Relations Officer M Kamrul Islam said a committee formed to look into the suspensions was due to submit report on February 22. Lokman Hossain, convener of the committee of deans, was leading the committee.

The university disciplinary committee headed by the VC would decide on the fate of the 15 students after getting the probe report, added Kamrul Islam.

Earlier on January 23, 15 students were suspended by the university authorities for their involvement in ragging, according to a university notice signed by Registrar Swadesh Chandra Samanta.