Visva Bharati students' continue their protest to reopen hostel, conduct online exams

On Wednesday, the agitation by more than 200 students crossed 48 hours, with Registrar Ashis Agarwal still inside his office even when protesting students claimed they haven't gheraoed him and he may leave if he wishes to.

Visva Bharati students' continue their protest to reopen hostel, conduct online exams

Visva-Bharati University students have refused to withdraw their sit-in demonstration outside the registrar's office till their demands to reopen the hostels and to hold the online examinations are met. Meanwhile, the official of the varsity also refused to leave his office until the students lifted their stir. 

However, heads of departments held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing situation even as Vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty issued a notice announcing that doors of the central office and library and other departments will be closed for visitors. On Wednesday, the agitation by more than 200 students crossed 48 hours, with Registrar Ashis Agarwal still inside his office even when protesting students claimed they haven't gheraoed him and he may leave if he wishes to.

Visva Bharati Students' demands

The protesting students have also demanded that the pending semester examinations of undergraduate and postgraduate students should be held online as the curriculum was taught in that mode for the last two years. 

The agitating students have spent Tuesday night out in the open. They demanded that hostels be reopened for students, hailing from across West Bengal and other states, who have to spend huge sums on accommodation in Bolpur town. The university said that it will take the decision on reopening of hostels, which are shut since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, at an appropriate time by weighing all options.

The official, however, said he will leave his chamber only when the protestors withdraw their stir. High drama was witnessed on Tuesday as the registrar attempted to come out of his room to offer puja on Maha Shivaratri but the agitating students refused to let him go alone and offered to accompany him. After this incident, he retreated to his office and refused to leave it till the agitators left the place. 

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