Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Jahangirnagar University (JU) broke the lock on the main gate of the university’s administrative building and rescued Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam and the pro-vice-chancellors, who were inside.

The operation was led by senior leaders of the university unit, including its convener, Zahiruddin Mohammad Babar, and member secretary, Wasim Ahmed Anik.

The incident took place shortly before 5:45pm on Tuesday. Earlier, at around 5pm, students of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture had locked the main gate of the university’s new administrative building while a special Syndicate meeting was underway.

Mohammad Shahriar, a student of the institute’s 53rd batch and one of those involved in the blockade, said the students were protesting the appointment of a professor from the Department of Philosophy as the institute’s director.

He said they wanted someone from their own institute’s teaching staff to take charge, particularly Associate Professor Hamim Kamrul Haque.

Shahriar alleged that the university administration was accusing Haque of being aligned with pro-Awami League teachers and depriving him of his rights.

He said that if Haque was not appointed, the students would prefer Professor Dr. Aniruddha Kahali of the Department of Bangla, who is involved in the institute’s academic activities, rather than an appointee from the Department of Philosophy.

The students had submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor earlier on Tuesday, outlining their demands.

Meanwhile, JCD leaders who led the breaking of the lock alleged that Associate Professor Hamim Kamrul of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture was involved in the politics of the “fascist” Awami League.

They further claimed that he had taken a position against students during the July uprising and maintained contact with fugitive Awami League leaders, allegedly attempting to destabilise the campus.

The JCD leaders said the university administration’s decision on the appointment should be considered final. They also accused the students involved in the blockade of attempting to create disorder on campus.

The university administration has not issued an official statement on the incident.