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Adviser Nahid assures to resolve the demands

JnU students demand urgent reforms, army-led campus project at secretariat protest rally

Published : Tuesday, 12 November, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 252
JnU Correspondent
Thousands of Jagannath University (JnU) students staged a sit-in protest at the Secretariat today, demanding progress on establishing a second campus and addressing other critical reforms. Expressing frustration over unresolved issues, the students called for the handover of the second campus project to the army, inclusion in the University Grants Commission (UGC) pilot project, and an increased annual budget for the university.

On Monday, 11 November, students blocked the road in front of the Education Ministry, pressing for immediate action on their five key demands. A 12-member delegation entered the Secretariat to submit a memorandum to the Education Secretary. However, upon learning that the Secretary would not meet with them directly, the students intensified their protest by surrounding the Secretariat.

The delegation, led by spokesperson Tousib Mahmud Sohan, included prominent student leaders AKM Rakib, Raisul Islam Noyon, Asadul Islam, Abu Bakar Khan, Naoshin Nawar Joya, Sohan Pramanik, Masud Rana, Nur Nabi, Omar Faruq, Ferdous Sheikh, and Apu Munshi.

Frustrated by the lack of direct engagement from the Education Secretary, the students began chanting slogans, demanding an apology or resignation. They also called for the presence of the Education Adviser to discuss their demands in person.

Responding to the students, Adviser Nahid Islam assured them of prompt action and expressed his support for their cause. Addressing the crowd in front of the Secretariat around 3:30 PM, he affirmed the legitimacy of their demands: "All of the students' demands are reasonable, and I fully support them. Jagannath University students face significant hardships, including inadequate housing and facilities. While we cannot create student halls overnight, we can work towards handing over the campus project to the army. This requires additional discussions, and I commit to initiating this process within the next three days."

Regarding reports of disrespectful treatment from the Education Secretary and other officials, Nahid added that an apology would be forthcoming. The students have given a three-day ultimatum and urged immediate action on the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project, demanding a conclusive decision in the presence of the Education Adviser.

The JnU students presented a five-point demand to the Education Ministry, urging immediate legal action against the current project director and the transfer of project responsibility to the army within seven days. They called for an official confirmation from the Ministry regarding army involvement in developing the second campus, along with the urgent acquisition of the remaining 11 acres for the new campus site and cancellation of prior agreements concerning the old campus. The students also demanded the inclusion of Jagannath University in the University Grants Commission's (UGC) pilot project and the allocation of a minimum of 500 crore BDT annually to support the university's growth and infrastructure.



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