However, the executive member of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) has stated that he will resign within the next two days.
The university authorities served a show-cause notice to Sarba Mitra Chakma last Monday for the incident of publicly punishing a group of adolescents who went to play at the university’s central ground.
Regarding this, Dhaka University’s Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed told TIMES of Bangladesh on Monday, “A show-cause notice has been sent to Sarba Mitra Chakma. After receiving his response, the university authorities will decide on the next course of action.”
When the former Ducsu leader was asked whether he had responded to the notice, Sarba Mitra said, “I have not responded yet. I do not think there is any benefit in explaining the cause to an administration that has not seen any cause in these matters for so long.”
“Haven’t they seen the incidents that have been happening for so long? They have pretended not to see even after seeing.”
Prior to this, in his Facebook post, Sarba Mitra Chakma wrote, “Since the Dhaka University administration has issued a show-cause, I will formally inquire in writing as to why student bicycles are stolen in front of the Central Library, why mobiles and wallets are lost on the central ground, why walls are not repaired, and why employees caught red-handed in a drunken state at the Physical Education building are still retained.”
When asked about the resignation, Sarba Mitra Chakma told journalists, “I still stand by my decision to resign. But I will take two days. Today is one day, tomorrow is another.”
He also said that during this time, he will send his incomplete tasks to the Pro-VC and Ducsu.
Sarba Mitra Chakma was elected as an executive member in the Ducsu election held last year. Since then, he has been the subject of similar controversies several times for incidents such as disciplining an elderly man with a stick in the name of eviction, beating various hawkers, and most recently, publicly punishing children and adolescents.
After the latest incident, on Monday afternoon, in his Facebook post, Sarba Mitra Chakma announced his resignation and wrote, “I have decided to resign. I have not taken this decision out of resentment towards anyone or being instigated. Where working is difficult, impossible, there is no point in holding onto a position.”
However, after Sarba Mitra’s resignation was announced, Ducsu’s Literature and Culture Secretary Mosaddek Ali Ibn Mohammad told TIMES of Bangladesh that if a final decision is made on this matter, it will be communicated through the union’s general secretary.
Referring to Sarba Mitra’s post regarding resignation as “given out of resentment”, he said, “He has not done anything for which he needs to resign.”
