JnU Correspondent

Students of Jagannath University have staged a blockade at Tati Bazar in Old Dhaka, demanding action on three key issues, including the transfer of the second campus construction project to the Army.

The protest commenced around noon on Monday, organized by the university's student body.

The students outlined their demands: they called for the corrupt project director, appointed during an authoritarian regime, to face legal consequences; they insisted that a qualified Army officer be appointed as the project director within seven days; they demanded an official announcement from the Ministry of Education regarding the transfer of the second campus project to the Army, along with a clear plan for the handover process—prioritizing hall construction; immediate measures for acquiring the remaining 11 acres of land; and the annulment of all unethical agreements related to the old campus made during the previous regime.

During the blockade, students chanted slogans such as, "We need Army contractors now; when will the second campus accommodations be ready? We demand our second campus; enhance our education pace; one, two, three, four, the campus is our right; all are fraudsters, the Army will be our contractors!"

Rakib, a Botany student, emphasized that the second campus is their moral right. "We lack halls and a proper campus. For a long time, we've been hearing promises of construction, yet no tangible progress has been made."

Another student, Nur Nabi, voiced frustration over administrative delays. "While complete projects typically take one to two years, here, it drags on indefinitely. The project timeline keeps extending with no real progress. The Army must take over this construction promptly to expedite the process."

Physics student Tausif Mahmud Sohan warned that if the Ministry of Education does not address their demands today, they will intensify their protests.

During the protest, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim found himself stuck in traffic and had to leave his vehicle to walk. He commented, "It's not as simple as saying it will be done; it’s a lengthy process that requires time."

After blocking the road for half an hour, the students returned to campus and surrounded the Vice-Chancellor's office to continue their demonstration.

They rejected an offer to meet with the Vice-Chancellor in a conference room, insisting, "If you want to talk to us, you must come to the streets or meet us in the peaceful courtyard if necessary."

Spokesperson Tausif Mahmud Sohan stressed that their demands are aimed at the Ministry, not the university administration. He declared that if their three demands are not met today, they will regroup in the peaceful courtyard at 11:30 AM tomorrow to block Tati Bazar again.