Summary:
- Jagannath University students locked the main gate and started a hunger strike demanding the army take over the second campus project.
- Their demands include temporary housing, a 70% housing allowance, and expedited construction of the Keraniganj campus.
- Overcrowding and infrastructure issues at the current campus have fueled frustration over years of delays in the new campus project.
- Academic activities remain suspended as protests intensify, with students rejecting assurances from university authorities.
Students of Jagannath University (JnU) have intensified their protest demanding the transfer of the construction of the university’s second campus to the Bangladesh Army. The demonstration, which began as a hunger strike on Sunday morning, escalated on Monday, January 13, 2025, when students locked the university’s main gate, effectively halting all campus activities.
The students’ demands center on three key issues: the immediate handover of the second campus project to the military for expedited construction, the provision of temporary housing for students, and a housing allowance for at least 70% of students until permanent accommodations are arranged. Despite assurances from university authorities, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Rezaul Karim, the protesters remain steadfast in their demands.
On Sunday evening, the Vice-Chancellor joined the hunger strike in a show of solidarity and urged students to end their protest. However, this appeal was rejected by the demonstrators. Speaking to reporters, one protester stated, “We will not suspend our hunger strike until our legitimate demands are met.” Another student emphasized that only a clear timeline from relevant authorities would lead to the suspension of their movement.
The roots of this protest trace back to long-standing grievances over inadequate infrastructure and housing facilities at JnU’s current campus in Old Dhaka. Overcrowding and poor living conditions have plagued students for years. In response to earlier protests in 2016, the government announced plans for a new 200-acre campus in Keraniganj’s Taghoria area. However, nearly eight years later, progress on the project remains minimal, with students growing increasingly frustrated over repeated delays and lack of transparency.
The proposed campus was designed to include modern academic buildings, administrative facilities, residential halls, sports fields, and other amenities. While some land has been acquired and partial funding allocated, construction has stalled due to bureaucratic hurdles and mismanagement. The students argue that transferring oversight to the military would ensure timely completion of the project.
This latest wave of protests underscores broader dissatisfaction among Bangladeshi university students regarding infrastructure deficits and administrative inefficiencies. Demonstrators have pointed out that many promises made by successive administrations remain unfulfilled. One student leader remarked, “If we cannot resolve these issues now under this government, we may never see change.”
The situation at JnU has drawn national attention as it reflects systemic challenges within Bangladesh’s higher education sector. For now, academic activities at Jagannath University remain suspended as both sides grapple with finding a resolution to this escalating crisis.
Source: Kalbela
