I am not willing to resign: JU VC

Jahangirnagar University (JU) Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam today expressed her unwillingness to resign from her post in the face of ongoing student movement protesting allegation of bribing Chhatra League men.

“As the students’ demand is void of logic and thus, I am not willing to resign,” VC Farzana Islam told reporters at a press conference at his office on the university campus this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, a faction of teachers and students of the JU staged a demonstration in front of the Shaheed Minar on the campus around 1:00pm and showed ‘red cards’ to the VC asking her to resign from the post.

Under the banner of “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption”, a section of teachers and students of the university issued an ultimatum on September 18, asking the VC to resign by today for her alleged link to the bribery allegation.

The agitated teachers and students also threatened to go for strike from tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to press home their demand.

Showing thumb to the demand, the JU VC said, “A group is mounting  pressure on me to resign from my post based on an illogical demand.”

Chhatra League President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and General Secretary Golam Rabbani reportedly demanded “4 to 6 per cent” in cuts from a Tk 1,445-crore project on the JU campuses from its VC.

Amid the widespread allegation over the bribery scam, BCL President Shovon and General Secretary Rabbani were removed from their respective posts.

About the protesters’ demand for judicial inquiry into the allegation, the VC said, “It is an illogical demand. I can’t do this. Even, I can’t want this. The government will take the decision while the judiciary will think about it.”

About Pro-Vice Chancellor Amir Hossain’s recent comments that the issue of the corruption is the VC’s personal matter, Farzana Islam said, “Then why was he so long a Pro-VC and why he is belonging to the post of the university? He should have resigned voluntarily.”

“If he (Pro-VC) understood that I have indulged in corruption and I will have to defend myself then why the gentleman seats besides me,” VC Farzana Islam said.

Claiming that she talked to the University Grants Commission and the ministry of education about the alleged corruption, the JU VC said, “They can investigate the matter if they feel. I will cooperate the authorities as much possible.”