Rajshahi University has finally brought an end to a prolonged administrative deadlock by removing the deans of six faculties, following weeks of sustained student protests and mounting pressure on the authorities. The decision, widely seen as a response to persistent agitation, was formally approved on Monday morning by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib.
According to university sources, the six deans submitted written applications declaring their inability to continue performing routine administrative duties amid the prevailing unrest on campus. Once these applications were accepted, responsibility for the affected faculties automatically reverted to the Vice-Chancellor under existing university regulations. To ensure that academic and administrative activities remain uninterrupted, the Vice-Chancellor and the two Pro-Vice-Chancellors have temporarily assumed responsibility for overseeing the faculties.
The development was confirmed at a media briefing held at the university’s administration building on Monday afternoon by Acting Registrar Professor Iftikharul Islam Masud. Explaining the rationale behind the decision, he said that the current circumstances had made it impossible for the deans to carry out their duties effectively. “After the Vice-Chancellor accepted their written statements of inability, the rules required that the responsibility be transferred to him. Subsequently, it was decided that the Vice-Chancellor and the two Pro-Vice-Chancellors would jointly manage the faculties on an interim basis,” he stated.
As part of this arrangement, the Vice-Chancellor will personally supervise the Science and Engineering faculties, which are considered particularly sensitive due to their size and academic workload. Professor Mohammad Main Uddin, acting as the Vice-Chancellor’s representative, has been assigned responsibility for the Business Studies and Law faculties. Meanwhile, Professor Farid Uddin will oversee the Social Sciences and Earth Sciences faculties.
The following table outlines the temporary allocation of responsibilities:
| Faculty | Interim Authority |
|---|---|
| Science | Vice-Chancellor |
| Engineering | Vice-Chancellor |
| Business Studies | Prof Mohammad Main Uddin |
| Law | Prof Mohammad Main Uddin |
| Social Sciences | Prof Farid Uddin |
| Earth Sciences | Prof Farid Uddin |
The removal of the deans comes against the backdrop of a wider student movement protesting what they described as an attempt to extend the tenure of deans appointed during the previous Awami League government. The official terms of the deans expired earlier this month, but administrative moves to prolong their tenure sparked anger among students, who accused the authorities of ignoring demands for transparency and reform.
Over the past several days, students organised demonstrations, sit-ins and symbolic actions, including locking administrative offices, to press home their demands. Negotiations between student representatives and senior officials eventually paved the way for the latest decision.
Many observers believe the move will help restore academic normalcy on campus, although questions remain about longer-term governance reforms and the appointment of new deans. For now, the university administration hopes that the interim arrangement will stabilise the situation and allow teaching, examinations and research activities to proceed without further disruption.