JnU female students allowed to stay in hall after protests

Jagannath University’s female students were instructed to leave the hall by Wednesday afternoon, but after being confined to the office, the provost eventually allowed them to stay.

JnU Vice-Chancellor Prof Sadeka Halim told bdnews24.com on Wednesday afternoon: “We have issued a notice for students to vacate the halls. However, due to the protests and demands of the students, the provost was compelled to grant permission [for stay].”

Following the University Grants Commission’s decision amid deadly violence over the quota reform protest, the JnU authorities announced on Wednesday morning the indefinite closure of all academic activities.

The residential students of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, the only female hall, were also asked to vacate it by 4pm.

The decision was made at an emergency syndicate meeting in the Vice-Chancellor’s conference room in the morning.

Later, around 2:15pm, the residential students began protesting outside the provost’s office, demanding to stay back in the hall.

At that time, Provost Prof Dipika Rani Sarker verbally said: “Those who want to stay in the hall can stay, and those who want to leave can leave.”

The students demanded a notice withdrawing the administration’s directive to leave the hall, saying that the provost’s verbal decision would not be adhered to.

When Prof Sarker refused to issue a written notice, the students gathered and locked the doors, confining the provost and some house tutors inside the office.

Finally, around 3:45 pm, the provost issued a written notice allowing the students to stay in the hall.

It said: “The residential students of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall at Jagannath University have been granted full permission to remain in the hall, accommodating all their demands. Besides, security measures and services such as gas, water, electricity, lift, internet, and the canteen will continue as before.”

Immediately after receiving the written notice, the students unlocked the door and released the teachers.

When contacted, VC Prof Sadeka told bdnews24.com: “According to the latest hall notice, they are now permitted to stay.”

Jaya, a resident student who only provided her first name, told bdnews24.com: “We will decide whether we stay in the hall or not. Why should the administration make unfair decisions about us? We choose to stay. The administration must ensure our security.”

When contacted for comment, Provost Prof Sarker ended the call abruptly.

Meanwhile, the protesting students have given a two-hour ultimatum to the JnU administration to issue a gazette accepting their six-point demand, including a ban on student politics on campus.

Around 4:45pm on Wednesday, a six-member delegation representing the protesting students submitted the demands in writing at the university’s proctor office.

University Proctor Prof Mohammad Jahangir Hussain told bdnews24.com: “The students have submitted their demands in writing. We will inform the administration about this.”

The six points of JnU students include:

• Student politics must be banned on the campus for life.
• Halls for female students should remain open, ensuring their safety and providing all necessary facilities.
• The authorities must cover the medical expenses of those injured while participating in the struggle for fair quota reform demands.
• If any teacher, student or employee cooperates with any political party, action will have to be taken against him.
• Ensure the safety of the students staying in the mess and prosecute the terrorists who attacked the mess and provide security to the students.
• Those who attacked the protestors and those who targeted the mess should be handed over to the administration, and all necessary legal assistance should be guaranteed to the protesting students.