Students of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Fisheries College in Jamalpur, which was recently upgraded as Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University, have demanded immediate appointment of a vice-chancellor at the university.

“We will not return to our classes and examinations until the demand is fulfilled,” they said at a press conference at Mymensingh Press Club on Monday.

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Fisheries College, the first fisheries college in the country, was established in Melandah upazila of Jamalpur in 2000. It got affiliation from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) the same year and has been running under the university since then.

There were demands on various occasions to upgrade the college as a university.

A bill, titled “Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University-2017,” was passed in the parliament in November last year, students said.

“For the last one month, we have been placing our demand for appointment of a vice-chancellor at the university but no initiative has been taken yet,” they said.

As the demand was not fulfilled, around 180 students of first and second year did not fill up forms for their semester final examinations, they said. 

When the authorities asked those students to leave the dormitories, other students joined them. The authorities closed the college for an indefinite period on April 26, the students said.

If a vice-chancellor is appointed soon, it will be very helpful for around 350 students of the institution.

Vice-principal of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Fisheries College Rafiqul Bari Mamun said, “We also want appointment of a VC soon. But there is no scope to appoint a vice-chancellor right now as the bill for the university is yet to be gazetted.