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Teachers and students of Jagannath University stage a demonstration in Dhaka's Kakrail for a second consecutive day on Thursday to press home their three-point demand, including a housing allowance until accommodation is arranged. They also demand punishment of the policemen who launched an attack on them. —FE Photo
The demonstrating teachers and students of Jagannath University (JnU) announced a shutdown of the university's activities on Thursday to press home their three-point-demand.
Prof. Rais Uddin, general secretary of the Jagannath University Teachers' Association, made the announcement during their sit-in protest in front of the Kakrail Mosque in the capital.
"We are here for realising our demands. Police brutally attacked us, which is completely illegal. We are not here to hatch conspiracy against anyone," he said.
"We will not return to our home until our demands are met," he also said, adding that JnU will not hold any classes or exams during the shutdown.
He warned of consequences if they are driven off from their demonstration spot.
The JnU students have been holding their sit-in protest at Kakrail since Wednesday till filling of the report at 7:30 pm.
Their slogans included: 'We want housing, not discrimination', 'No budget cut'.
Their demands are:
1. A housing allowance must be allocated for 70 per cent of JnU students from the 2025-26 fiscal year until proper housing arrangement is ensured.
2. The proposed full budget for JnU for the FY2025-26 must be approved without any amendment.
3. The construction work of JnU's second campus must be implemented as a priority project after approving it in the next Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting.
On Thursday, they also called for ensuring punishment to those who attacked JnU students.
Earlier on Wednesday in a JnU long march participated by teachers, students and journalists, at least 50 people were injured as police used force to disperse them.
The long march was organised towards the chief adviser's Jamuna residence.
Of the injured persons, 10 were hospitalised.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement through the Kakrail intersection remained halted till Thursday evening due to the demonstration.
It led to severe traffic congestion on the road leading from Karail intersection towards Paltan.
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