Protesting Pharmacy students demand accountability and reform

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On September 4th, a wave of frustration swept through Brac University as hundreds of Pharmacy students gathered in front of the Acting Vice Chancellor’s office, demanding the resignation of their Dean, Professor Eva Rahman Kabir, and Assistant Dean, Professor Hasina Yasmin.

The protest, which began early in the morning, reflects deep frustrations over what students describe as years of administrative misconduct and abuse. However, what started as a calm demonstration soon turned into a distressing experience, leaving students feeling disillusioned.

After hours of waiting, a delegation of ten students, accompanied by several Pharmacy faculty members, was finally called into a meeting with senior university officials, including the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

One of the student representatives, Mahim Hassan Chowdhury (Senior, Pharmacy), described the meeting as unsettling. “We were forced to hand over our phones before entering the meeting, while the faculty members and officials kept theirs,” he said. 

The students came with a 15-point list of demands aimed at improving their school. These included investigations into workplace abuse and long-overdue reforms to raise academic standards. They stressed the need for the Dean and Assistant Dean’s immediate resignation, accusing them of misconduct and creating a toxic environment.

Rather than addressing the concerns, the administration deflected, demanding evidence from the students and refusing to take responsibility for investigating the allegations. When the students pressed for accountability, the officials became defensive. “At one point, the Acting VC sarcastically said he’d resign too if that’s what we wanted,” Mahim recalled.

Despite being visibly shaken by the harsh treatment, students remained composed, trying to de-escalate the situation. Mahim noted that while the Acting Vice-Chancellor showed some sympathy, the aggressive behavior of other senior management left them all stunned.

Student representatives later took to social media to share their experiences from the meeting. They reported that several senior members of the administration, including deans and chairpersons, displayed aggressive behavior. Particularly concerning was the conduct of Prof. Fuad H. Mallick, Dean of the School of Architecture. According to the students, Dean Mallick verbally abused and belittled them. This unprovoked hostility left Zahra Labiba Ahmed (Senior, Pharmacy), one of the student representatives in tears.

The tension escalated further when Deputy Proctor Farhan Huq barged into the meeting, accusing the students of inciting a “mob” outside. His remarks shocked both students and faculty members, as he went so far as to threaten to “demolish” the entire department.

The meeting dragged on for hours without any resolution, while the protesting students were told to wait in the multipurpose hall. They were promised that the Acting Vice Chancellor would come to address them, but he never appeared. Instead, around 7 PM, when the meeting ended, Pharmacy faculty members came to the hall to brief the students. They urged students to reconsider the boycott.

The administration offered no concrete plan to investigate the allegations or take immediate action. Disheartened but determined, the students are now compiling specific cases against the Dean and Assistant Dean to submit to the authorities.

Zahra Labiba later posted online: “The events that transpired today have only strengthened our resolve. We will not attend classes until the Dean and Assistant Dean resign.”

When approached for comment, only one senior faculty member from the School of Pharmacy responded, stating they were “trying to resolve all the issues” and added that “higher management is quite cooperative.” However, they declined to comment on the incidents that occurred during the previous day’s meeting.

Latest Update (05 th September, 2024, 8:00 PM): 

In a meeting held today afternoon with the faculty of the School of Pharmacy some decisions were made. It was decided that the Dean and Assistant Dean of Pharmacy will not perform their duties for now, with the Pro-Vice Chancellor now overseeing the school’s affairs. An investigation is ongoing, and action will be taken within three weeks.There are also reports that the Deputy Proctor has been asked to issue a written apology. In the meantime, students have agreed to return to classes on Sunday, honoring multiple requests from their faculty. The Architecture Dean issued an apology to both faculty and students.