Students of the Marketing Department at Islamic University expressed anger after Professor Dr Abdus Shahid Mia, dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, was appointed department chair. On Tuesday at about 9:30am, they held a human chain on the ground floor of the faculty building before locking it and halting faculty operations. They demanded that a teacher from their own department be appointed chair.

Protesters chanted slogans calling for a departmental chair and rejecting what they described as an illegal appointment. Departmental sources said the Marketing Department has five teachers, all assistant professors. One had previously served as chair, while another’s term ended on August 17. The remaining three teachers are considered eligible to become chair under the rules.

The regulations state that the most senior teacher in a department should be appointed chair, followed by rotation. If no eligible teacher is available, the current chair may be reappointed; if that person declines an interim role, the faculty dean may take responsibility. Students said they would not unlock the gate until their demand was met. Members of the university proctorial body were present, while the registrar could not be reached.