No scheduled classes or examinations were held yesterday on the second day of the RU Teachers' Association's (Ruta) three-day work abstention programme. In addition, all administrative activities came to a halt following the one-day token work abstention programme of RU Officers and Employees' Association.

The academic activities of population science and human resource (PSHR) department remained suspended yesterday, since the department decided not to continue the activities unless the attackers of its faculty member Mahmudul Hasan are not punished.

On January 21, the 'controversial' employees carried out sporadic attacks on teachers and officials and ransacked the offices of vice-chancellor (VC), pro-VC and Planning and Development division.

Meanwhile, Progressive Teachers' Association (PTA) members last night met RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain at his house and demanded a 'judicial investigation' into the January 21 incident. They also demanded exemplary punishment and cancellation of appointments of the 546 employees who attacked the teachers on that day.

Prof Khairul Alam of Department of Animal Husbandry Science told The Daily Star that no action could be taken as yet against the employees responsible due to the senior teachers' affiliation to the ruling parties.

Fresh agitation programmes would be declared after the teachers' association meets with the VC, Ruta President Prof Nazrul Islam told reporters yesterday.

The 'controversial' 546 employees staged a showdown on the campus yesterday morning, but the police did not arrest anyone. They will also hold a rally on the campus near Kajla gate today demanding confirmation of their jobs.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Progotishil Chhatra Jote (PCJ) and many other political and cultural organisations condemned the employees' attack on teachers and demanded exemplary punishment of the attackers.