BU students lock Deptt of Coastal Studies, demand chairman’s resignation

BARISHAL, Aug 30: Students of the Department of Coastal Studies and Disaster Management at Barishal University (BU) staged demonstration on Sunday against their department chairman, alleging that his multiple administrative responsibilities are disrupting academic activities.

The students locked the chairman’s office and hung a banner declaring him “unwanted” at the department. They later marched to the vice-chancellor’s office and staged a sit-in, temporarily restricting access.

The students said Associate Professor Dr Hafiz Ashraful Haque holds four major positions at the university. In addition to serving as department chairman, he is dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, a member of the university syndicate and project director of a one-year integrated feasibility study for preparing the university’s second-phase development project proposal.

The protesters questioned whether one teacher can effectively manage the responsibilities while giving sufficient attention to the department. They alleged that Hafiz is often unavailable and that classes and examinations are not being held regularly, disrupting their studies and contributing to session delays.

The students demanded that the university remove Hafiz from his additional responsibilities or appoint another person as department chairman.

Hafiz rejected the allegations, saying student protests at the university are not unusual and may sometimes be influenced by groups with separate interests. He said the protesting students had been misled and that their concerns would be resolved if they understood the situation fully.

He expressed hope that the students would recognise their mistake and return to their classrooms.

The protest highlights concerns over whether a single faculty member can effectively manage a department while simultaneously holding several senior administrative and project responsibilities.