The Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) turned down an offer of negotiation of the university’s Vice-chancellor (VC) Professor Anwar Hossain to resolve the ongoing crisis over his resignation on Monday.

Professor Ajit Kumar Mazumder, president of JUTA, said they took the decision not to accept the offer at an executive level meeting held on the campus on Monday.

He also said the JUTA was ready to discuss with anyone except the VC as it declared him persona non grata on the campus on June 19.

Professor Amir Hossain, spokesman of the VC removal movement, said ‘No dialogue will be held with the VC who has been declared persona non grata and there is no way to resolve the crisis without his (VC) resignation.

In this regard, VC Anwar Hossain said, ‘I think the ongoing crisis can be resolved through talks as JUTA’s most of the demands have already been met’.
The VC also assured the agitating teachers of considering their others demands through dialogue.

The teachers of the university continued their besiege programme at the administrative building for the fifth consecutive day although regular classes and examinations were held as usual.

On the other hand, JU Officers’ Association (JUOA) was also staging demonstration and holding work abstention programme on Monday for the third day to press home their demands including increase in their retirement age limit to 62 years from 60.

Earlier, VC Prof Anwar Hossain sent two letters to the agitating teachers on Sunday and the day before for negotiation to resolve the ongoing movement over his resignation that started on June 20, but the teachers are still firm on their one-point demand that is the VC’s resignation.