Dhaka, July 11 (UNB) - As their demand for the removal of its VC and Pro-VC went unheeded, deans of five faculties, directors of three institutes and chairmen of 17 departments of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) resigned en masse on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Buet authorities closed the country’s premier technological university for 44 days from today in an apparent move to ease tensions after Buet Teachers' Association threatened to start class boycott for an indefinite period if the university vice-chancellor (VC) and pro-VC are not removed within July 14.

Despite the closure, the teachers, officials and students of Buet took position on the campus since morning and staged demonstrations and a rally to press for their demand.

The teachers and students from the rally urged the authorities to reopen the university immediately.

Additional police have been deployed on the Buet campus to avoid any turmoil.

Meanwhile, the Buet teachers observed a two-hour work abstention from July 7 to realise their demand.

Earlier, the teachers' association had boycotted all the academic activities from April 7 to May 5, demanding resignation of VC Prof Nazrul Islam and Pro-VC Prof M Habibur Rahman bringing the allegations of irregularities against them.

They postponed their agitation on May 5 following an assurance by the Prime Minister of looking into the matter.

As there has been no ‘sign of fulfilling their demand’, the teachers on June 9 renewed their call for the resignation of the VC and the Pro-VC.