Ignoring the students demand and relevant provision the interim government is likely to appoint the former professor of the university’s political science department Dr Muhammad Yahiya Akhtar as the new vice-chancellor of the Chittagong University (CU).
Professor Yahiya has been retired by the government as he completed 65 years. If he will be appointed as vice-chancellor of the university, it would be difficult for him to run the university smoothly as he has not administrative skills at all, university teachers and students opined.
There is a rumour regarding the Dr Yahiya that he was seen during the students movement against the Awami League government even he did not play any administrative role during his teaching tenure in the university. Hence, there are many questions that like unskilled Dr Yahiya will handle the responsibility of the head of the university.
Students and teachers also raised questions saying that Professor Dr Yahiya studied from Rajshahi University. After that he taught in CU. But, there are many former skilled students of CU, who are teaching in the university. Appointing someone from among them as a vice-chancellor can help the university move forward, they said.
A teacher of the rank of Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Sociology of the University said, Dr Yahiya did not hold any administrative duties at CU. There is no justification for suddenly placing him in the highest chair of the university. Moreover, we have seen him closely. Due to nature, he mixes with people very little. His temper was particularly irritable toward the end of his teaching tenure due to his age. The Vice-Chancellor of the University has to manage the administration in coordination with many. But it seems that will not be possible for Yahiya, he added.
It is known that students have been attacked several times under the leadership of Chhatra League leaders and activists in the anti-discrimination movement. At the beginning of the movement, there was no chance of the government falling. Still, ignoring the bloodshot eyes of the rulers, some teachers stood by the students. Because of this, some teachers' houses were also attacked. Some teachers were threatened with dismissal from the university through social media and directly. But despite all this, they stood by the students.
A former student of CU named Askar Ali said that Yahiya sir did not play any visible role in the students’ movement. Still, I don't understand why his name keeps coming up. But the interim government should have appointed someone as vice-chancellor of the university from among the teachers who played a role in the recent agitation against the Awami League government.
Yeasin
