Campus Report
Chittagong Nursing College (CNC) authorities closed the institution for an indefinite period on July 10, 2014, amid students’ demonstration following suspension of 28 students.
The authorities on July 09, 2014 served a notice on 28 male students to vacate within 24 hours a risky and abandoned academic building of the college where they had taken shelter on June 09, 2014 as their residences in the port city went under water due to torrential rains and water-logging.
As the 28 students did not agree to leave the building, the authorities suspended them on July 10 that triggered students’ demonstration on the campus, prompting the authorities to close the institution for an indefinite period at the same day.
Students have been demonstrating on the campus since the beginning of this year with different demands, including setting up of a dormitory for male students, enhancing facilities at the dormitory of female students, following the academic calendar properly, and stopping “irregularities” and “corruption” of the college authorities. The suspension of 28 students added fuel to the situation. The authorities also asked the female students to vacate their dormitory within 24 hours.
Final-year student Syed Ahmed Tanshir, also president of the CNC Students’ Welfare Association told that the students had taken shelter at the old academic building with permission from the authorities. “On July 09, the authorities suddenly ordered us to leave the building within 24 hours”, he said, adding that they did not comply with the decision as they had no place to go. “We don’t have any male hostel. Also, the female dormitory that we have accommodates six students in a room which can actually accommodate only two students”, he said. Moreover, the authorities do not follow the academic calendar and take fees without giving any receipt, he alleged.
Principal of CNC, Hosne Ara Begum said, “The Public Works Department in 2010 declared that the building was risky”. “How can I allow the students to live there? Who will take the responsibility if any accident occurs?”. “The authorities were compelled to close the college as students started unruly activities on the campus”, she said, claiming that all academic fees had been being taken as per the rules of the health ministry.
Principal of Chittagong Medical College, Professor Selim Mohammad Jahangir, also Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Chittagong University, said students could not reside in a risky building and so they were asked to vacate the building. He said they had written to the authorities concerned to establish a male dormitory.
