A group of people identifying themselves as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters assaulted Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Jawadul Haque and his personal secretary (PS) on Tuesday and forced them to sign resignation letters.

The incident took place around 11:30am at the university’s temporary office on the Rajshahi Medical College campus.

Witnesses said around 20 to 25 people went to the RMU office in a procession under the banner of “Apamor Chhatra-Janata”. The group was led by Rajshahi City Krishak Dal President Sharfuzzaman Shamim and Rajshahi District Tanti Dal President Mosharraf Hossain Kajal.

Rajshahi City BNP Ward 6 unit President Al Mostak Shaheen, former member of the city BNP convening committee Kamal, Zia Mancha President Bulbul and its General Secretary Laltu were also present, according to witnesses.

Jawadul confirmed the incident to Daily Waadaa, saying it was linked to earlier pressure over construction projects at the university.

“Construction work for a project facility is underway at the new university, and contracting firms want to get involved. I think today’s incident is part of that previous sequence,” he said.

He said around 20 to 25 people entered his room.

“They told me, ‘You are an associate of the Awami League; you are not giving work to the people of Rajshahi. People coming from Dhaka to work here, you cannot do this. You cannot sit in this chair; get up from the chair,'" Jawadul said.

He said the procurement process was being conducted through the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, leaving no scope for individuals to influence the award of contracts.

“Everything is now an automated system. Documents are submitted online, verified and then sent to the ministry. So no individual has the scope to manipulate it,” he said.

Jawadul said he had previously been pressured to award work to specific companies but refused, citing the e-GP rules.

He said the group pushed a paper towards him and ordered him to sign it. When his PS, Nazmul Hossain tried to resist, the group assaulted him and forced a pen into the VC’s hand.

“Seeing their attitude, I realised that if I delayed, they might physically assault me as well. I signed immediately and asked, ‘What paper is this?’ They replied, ‘You don’t need to read it, you just sign,’” he said.

Jawadul said the group later ordered him to leave and go home. His mobile phone, which had been taken earlier, was returned to him.

He later learned that the group had removed the computer CPU from his room, damaged the CCTV system, disconnected the Wi-Fi and cut the main power supply. They also locked the vice-chancellor’s, registrar’s and other rooms and forced staff to leave.

Jawadul said he informed the health minister, secretary and local administration about the incident and instructed university officials to file a written complaint with the police.

The group then left with the resignation letters signed by the VC and his PS. 

After leaving the university office, the group held a human chain. Sharfuzzaman claimed that Jawadul had resigned voluntarily and peacefully and thanked him for doing so.

Rajshahi City BNP Senior Vice-President Nazrul Huda said local BNP leaders and activists went to the university office and forced the VC to resign over disputes concerning recruitment and tender processes.

Rajpara Thana BNP President Mizanur Rahman also confirmed the incident, saying BNP, Krishak Dal, Tanti Dal and local residents, led by Sharfuzzaman, went to protest alleged corruption and irregularities by the vice-chancellor.

People linked to the BNP had previously demanded Jawadul’s resignation, alleging irregularities in recruitment and other university activities. A similar protest was held in August, when allegations of corruption, irregularities, embezzlement and nepotism were also raised.

Jawadul, however, denied the allegations.