EB fine arts students on hunger strike to demand use of classrooms

The students of Islami University (EB) Department of Fine Arts have announced a fast to death demanding the eviction of illegal occupants and the use of allotted rooms. They held this program in front of the administration building from 3 pm on Monday (October 4). Earlier they held protest and sit-in program at the same place from 9 am.

It is known that on October 8, the university administration allocated a total of 24 rooms including 23 rooms on the fourth floor and 1 room on the fifth floor of Rabindra-Nazrul Kala Bhavan to the fine arts department. At the same time, 15 rooms were allotted to the Department of Development Studies on the fifth floor and 17 rooms to the Department of Folklore Studies on the same floor.

Arts students complained, "Department of Folklore Studies and Development Studies occupied the rooms unfairly even though they were allotted by the administration." As the administration has not done any solution despite the assurance of a quick solution, we have been holding a continuous sit-in program since yesterday.'

Regarding the hunger strike, Nishat Tasnim, a student of fine arts department, said, 'Although we reassured many people in many ways, we came here under compulsion without getting any visible results. We don't have any exam rooms. Our class after class has been cancelled. I can't find a room to let the president of the department sit. Although the authorities have allotted us a room, we are unable to get up as the other 2 departments are occupying it. We are on hunger strike without getting any response from the administration to resolve this. We will not leave until we get our demands.'

In this regard, the president of the fine arts department, Professor Dr. Kamrul Hasan said, 'The movement of the students is definitely logical. Classes should be provided in rooms allotted by the authorities. However, care should be taken not to create a chaotic situation.'

Professor Atifa Kafi, president of the Department of Development Studies, said, "The instructions given by the authorities should be followed."

President of Folklore Studies Department. Abu Shibli Fateh Ali Chowdhury said, according to the instructions of the authorities, we prepared to go to the rooms on the fifth floor allotted to us. Later the students objected by raising the issue of allotment of fewer rooms despite being a relatively old department. They are not listening to us.'

Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Dr. Emtaz Hossain said, 'A small problem is being made big. We sat with the teachers of all the departments and decided about the room allocation. But trying to create a chaotic situation without going to the allotted room. I think that the solution of the matter lies in the hands of the teachers. Students are obliged to go to the rooms allotted to them if they ask the students. On the instructions of the Vice-Chancellor, I have also spoken to the President of the Department of Development Studies and Folklore Studies separately about the matter. Still chaos is being created by disobeying orders. Now if someone disobeys the order, then what can we do, we are not the police administration anymore. I think these things are being done in a planned manner to embarrass the vice-chancellor.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Naqeeb Mohammad Nasrullah said, "There is no chance of occupation in present Bangladesh. In this case, if the faculty dean and the president of the fine arts department are present, we will resolve the matter quickly through discussion.'
It is to be noted that it is known that the decision to allocate these rooms to the departments was taken in the faculty meeting last August. However, Department of Folklore Studies and Development Studies continued to use the rooms allotted in the name of Department of Fine Arts, instead of going to the rooms allotted to them. Later, despite instructions in the form of a notification, two sections refused to vacate the occupied rooms. Meanwhile, as there was no solution, the fine arts department started a movement in front of the administration building at 9 am on Sunday.
Later at 12:30 pm, the students of Development Studies and Folklore Studies Department staged counter-movement by standing opposite the Art Department.

The students of Development Studies Department said, 'We have been holding classes in the rooms on the fourth floor since the time of the previous Vice-Chancellor's verbal assurance. But in early October, the administration thought about the facilities of the fine arts department and allocated 23 rooms on the fourth floor. And the room allocated for us is very inadequate. Now the art students are claiming that we are forcibly occupying these rooms, which is completely baseless. We do not have the right to hold classes in these rooms. So we are doing this movement to bring the matter to the attention of the administration. Because the administration is looking at opportunities for fine arts, but instead of looking at us as an older department, it is constantly discriminating against us.'