Students of Rangamati Science and Technology University (RMSTU) on Monday staged a road blockade on Monday, demanding the immediate appointment of a Vice-Chancellor (VC).
The protest began at 11:30 AM at Banarupa Market intersection, blocking the Rangamati-Chattogram highway for nearly two hours. The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill in the area.
The demonstration culminated in a protest march from Banarupa to the District Commissioner's office gate. Chanting slogans, the students expressed their frustration over the prolonged absence of a VC which they claimed has left the university leaderless. They highlighted the disruption in academic and administrative activities, including faculty recruitment, as the institution struggles to operate effectively without a VC.
Following assurances from local administration officials, the students temporarily withdrew their blockade but warned of escalating their protests if their demands are not met within 72 hours.
The students vowed to intensify their movement, threatening to block the highway and halt the District Commissioner's activities if a VC is not appointed by Thursday.
Rangamati Additional District Commissioner, Ruhul Amin, assured the students that their concerns were being addressed. "I have received confirmation from the Ministry of Education that the file for the VC appointment will be sent to the Chief Adviser's Office today and subsequently to the President's Office. We expect the new VC to be appointed within a day or two," he stated.
