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Rajshahi, May 22, 2025: Students of the Folklore Department at Rajshahi University (RU) staged a protest on Thursday, pressing for a three-point demand, including the reformation of the department’s name. The demonstration took place at 10:30 AM in front of the Ismail Hossain Siraji Academic Building gate on the university campus.
During the protest, students chanted slogans such as “No more excuses about the department, it won’t do,” “We need reform in the Folklore Department now,” “Syndicate or freedom, we want freedom,” and “Folklore and Social Development Studies.” Their demands include:
- Reformation or amendment of the Folklore Department’s name to enhance its recognition and acceptance.
- Ensuring the inclusion of Folklore as a subject with a specific code in the Public Service Commission (PSC) and University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Publishing exam results within one month and releasing class routines on time.
Al Shahria Shubh, a student from the 2021-22 academic year, said, “Folklore is a multidisciplinary department, but there’s a misconception about it among people. This is causing us to fall behind in the job market. The department’s name needs to be changed. We have been raising this demand for a long time.”
S.N. Shobha, a student from the 2020-21 academic year, added, “The Folklore Department was initially under the Faculty of Arts, but later moved to the Faculty of Social Sciences. However, the department’s name makes it unclear which faculty we belong to, leading to problems in the job market and other areas.”
Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Hossain, chairman of the department, commented, “The students are protesting for the reformation of the department’s name. On Tuesday (May 20), we formed a three-member committee in an academic meeting, comprising Professor Akhtar Hossain, Professor Mostafa, and Professor Amirul Islam, to address this issue. The committee will provide recommendations. As chairman, I support the students’ legitimate demands. We have discussed the matter with the Vice-Chancellor, but I am unaware why the students began a hunger strike beforehand.”
AI/MR
