JnU students hold ‘complete shutdown’ programme amid hunger strike

Students at Jagannath University (JnU) have begun a ‘complete shutdown’ programme after a 24-hour hunger strike to push for their three-point charter of demands.

Among their key demands is the call for the construction of the university’s second campus to be handed over to the army, reports UNB.

After their 24-hour-long hunger strike failed to yield a response, the students locked the main entrance of the university and the Sajid Academic Building on Monday morning.

While the pocket gate remained open, vehicular access was obstructed, creating significant disruption for teachers and students attempting to enter.

Departments across the campus were also shuttered as students united in solidarity with the shutdown initiative.

These include the Department of Mathematics, Department of Botany, Department of Social Work, Department of Political Science, Department of Chemistry, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Department of Physics, Department of Marketing, Department of Management Studies, Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Department of History, Department of Education and Research Institutes, Department of Pharmacy, Department of Land Management and Law, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, and Department of Bengali.

Masud Rana, a student of the university’s physics department, told bdnews24.com: “We will not attend any classes or take exams at the university until our demands are met. We announced a complete shutdown last night."

In addition to seeking the army’s involvement in constructing the university’s second campus, they are calling for the expedited completion of steel-based buildings at Bani Bhaban and Dr Habibur Rahman Hall in Old Dhaka. The students have also demanded that 70 per cent of them be provided housing allowances until adequate accommodations are ensured, further escalating tensions on the campus.

CAUSES BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

In the wake of a month-long demonstration by students demanding residential halls in September 2016, the Awami League government announced the establishment of a new 200-acre campus for Jagannath University in Keraniganj’s Taghoria.

The original plan included academic buildings, administrative facilities, student housing, a student-teacher centre, a cafeteria, sports fields, a medical centre, a swimming pool, and a lake, aiming to create a modern campus.

On Oct 3, 2018, the Ministry of Land granted final approval for the land. A few days later, on Oct 9, the project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, or ECNEC. Jagannath University received a cheque for nearly Tk 9 billion in July 2019 to implement the project, which is estimated to cost Tk 19.2 billion.

By Jan 23, 2020, the university had acquired 188.60 acres out of the total 200 acres designated for the campus. However, it has yet to acquire the remaining 11.40 acres.

After the transition of power in August, the students of Jagannath University went on strike with a three-point charter of demands, including handing over the construction of the second campus to the army.

On November 5, they locked the university's administrative building.

On November 11, students blocked Abdul Gani Road’s Education Rights Chattar and later encircled the Secretariat.

Later they met ICT Advisor Nahid Islam and relevant officials from the education ministry.

On November 12, a meeting was held with Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, who agreed to the students' demand to hand over the second campus construction work to the army.

However, two months after the promise, no concrete steps had been taken to implement the decision, prompting renewed frustration among the students.

Last week, they escalated their campaign by staging a hunger strike, demanding accountability and immediate action to fulfil the commitment.