GUWAHATI: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar has named Prof Brinda Bhowmick as its new Dean (Academic). Prof KL Baishnab, the institute’s registrar, issued the order with the approval of the competent authority, as per clause 19 of the First Statues under the NIT Act 2007, on Saturday.
The order stated that Prof Brinda Bhowmick, a professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, would assume office as the new Dean (Academic) effective September 25.
The appointment comes after a series of protests and demands by nearly 4000 students who called off a five-day hunger strike on Saturday after an audience with the director of the institute, Dilip Kumar Baidya, on Friday. According to reports, the director has assured the students of a resolution to the issue.
The recent appointment follows a series of events that began with the tragic suicide of a 5th-semester student from Arunachal Pradesh, Koj Buker, on September 15. The student’s death led to allegations of academic setbacks and mistreatment by Dean Roy, prompting widespread protests and a hunger strike by students.
In response to the student protests, Prof BK Roy had been relieved of his duties as Dean (Academic), with Dr Lalit Kumar Saikia temporarily taking over the role. NIT Registrar KL Baishnab had urged students to return to their classrooms and highlighted the institution’s commitment to dialogue, emphasising that the institute’s reputation could affect the future of its students.
The situation had escalated to the point where police had to intervene and use force to control the protests. However, with the appointment of Prof Bhowmick as the new Dean (Academic), there are hopes for a resolution to the ongoing issues and a return to normalcy at NIT Silchar.
