Teachers and students of Jagannath University have vowed to continue their protest at the Jamuna intersection until their three-point demand is fulfilled, following a violent police crackdown that left over a hundred injured.
Thousands of teachers and students from Jagannath University (JnU) blocked the road at Kakrail intersection near Jamuna on Wednesday afternoon, declaring they would not leave until their demands were met. The announcement came amid growing unrest following Tuesday’s failed negotiations with the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Chanting slogans such as “Jagannathians have awakened” and “We won’t return empty-handed,” protestors demanded justice for police action against students and teachers during their peaceful long march earlier in the day. At least 100 people, including students, teachers, and journalists, were injured in the clash when police fired tear gas, sound grenades, and hot water to disperse the march. Reports confirmed baton charges followed, causing chaos.
Among the injured were several journalists, including Mahtab Limon (Dhaka Post), Suborno Assaif (JnU Press Club), Mehedi Hasan (Dainik Sangbad), Sohan Farazi (Dhaka Tribune), and Najid (Ittefaq). Members of the university’s faculty, including Dr. Md. Rois Uddin, Nasir Uddin, Belal Hossain, Dr. Tazammul Haque, and Dr. Mosharraf Hossain, also sustained injuries.
The protesters’ three-point demand includes:
Housing allowance for 70% of students starting fiscal year 2025-26 until permanent accommodation is ensured.
Full approval of the university’s proposed 2025-26 budget without any cuts.
Immediate approval and prioritization of the second campus project in the upcoming ECNEC meeting.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rezaul Karim, Treasurer Dr. Sabina Sharmin, and other senior officials appeared at the protest site later in the afternoon. A discussion between the university administration and representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office began in the evening but ended without any conclusive statement.
Expressing solidarity, Islami Chhatra Shibir president Zahidul Islam joined the protest and condemned the government’s indifference to student demands, terming it a betrayal of higher education values. He urged immediate acceptance of the demands and justice for the police action.
JnU Proctor Dr. Tazammul Haque and Teachers’ Association General Secretary Dr. Rois Uddin echoed similar sentiments, vowing not to withdraw from Jamuna until justice and a formal response are achieved.
The protest movement, sparked by long-standing grievances over housing and budget issues, appears poised to intensify unless authorities intervene with concrete action.
LND/BG
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