JnU Correspondent

In a significant step to address the long-standing issue of non-residential status among Jagannath University (JnU) students, the university administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with As-Sunnah Foundation to provide temporary accommodation for 700 students along with scholarships.

The MoU was signed on Tuesday (December 10) at the Vice-Chancellor’s conference room in the presence of JnU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim and As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah.

According to the MoU, initially, accommodation will be arranged for 700 students at Bashundhara Riverview, located on the banks of the Buriganga in Keraniganj, Dhaka. Scholarships will be provided based on students’ academic performance, financial status, and family background. The scholarships will range from 100%, 75%, 50%, to 25%. The temporary accommodation will include a high-standard library, computer lab, IELTS preparation facilities, and various government-approved skill development courses. All expenses related to accommodation will be borne by As-Sunnah Foundation, while the university will cover the transportation costs between the campus and the accommodation.

Speaking on the initiative, Shaykh Ahmadullah, Chairman of As-Sunnah Foundation, stated, “Alhamdulillah, we had been planning a project like this for a long time. Similarly, Jagannath University administration was also working on resolving the accommodation issue for students. Our mutual goals aligned, and today, we are at this stage. Through this project, we aim not only to solve the accommodation problem but also to transform students into the best human resources for the country. We hope no political activities will take place in these accommodations, and we trust the university administration will ensure this.”

He further added, “Currently, we are starting with accommodation for 700 students, but our target is to increase this to 5,000 students in the future. Not only for Jagannath University, but we also aim to address the accommodation crisis for students of other universities across the country, insha’Allah.”

JnU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim remarked, “One of the biggest challenges I faced as Vice-Chancellor was addressing the accommodation crisis for our students. To tackle this, we formed a committee a month ago to work on temporary housing arrangements. The committee worked tirelessly to locate suitable buildings and communicated with As-Sunnah Foundation. Alhamdulillah, through our combined efforts, we have secured accommodation for 700 students today. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Shaykh Ahmadullah and everyone involved in making this possible.”

He added, “At the same time, we are also working on establishing permanent housing facilities under the university’s management. I hope to share a significant update on this soon. The partnership with As-Sunnah Foundation through today’s MoU marks the beginning of a promising journey, and I hope this collaboration will continue in the future.”

This initiative aligns with the decision made during the Ministry of Education meeting on November 12, which emphasized securing local and international sponsorships to address temporary accommodation challenges. As a result, JnU formed a committee on December 3, which eventually led to this agreement with As-Sunnah Foundation, one of the most reputed philanthropic organizations in the country.