Jagannath University protesters continue protests over three demands

After police interception on their protest march to chief advisor’s residence, Jagannath University students have staged a sit-in at Kakrail Mosque intersection to press home three demands.

Police dispersed the protesters once, but they regrouped and returned to continue demonstrating, ignoring the heat and the downpour on Wednesday.

The students, who were accompanied by teachers throughout the day, vowed to continue protests until the Chief Advisor’s Office sends words of assurance.

Around 8pm on Wednesday, students and teachers of the university located in the capital's Old Dhaka were seen protesting in front of the chief justice’s residence near the Kakrail Mosque intersection.

The JnU teachers and students launched the “March to Jamuna” procession from the campus around 11:30am on Wednesday with a three-point list of demands. These include 70 percent housing allowance, increase in budget and priority for all projects.

When the procession approached Gulistan Golap Shah Mazar, police intervened, and a scuffle ensued.

The protesters then tried to break through police barricades, prompting law enforcers to swing batons at them and later lob tear gas shells, stun grenades and blast water to fend off the protesters. The protesters subsequently retreated to the Matsya Bhaban intersection before returning for a sit-in at the Kakrail Mosque intersection.

At least 50 people were reportedly injured, with at least 25 admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

After a brief pause for rain, the protesters again attempted to move towards the State Guest House Jamuna.

As they arrived in front of the chief justice's residence, the protesting crowds began shouting slogans: “I don't understand the commotion, long march to Jamuna”, “If it takes blood, then give blood — but give us housing.”

“If you bleed, give us blood, but give us housing, light the fire, light the fire”, “No more negligence, this time it will be the real game”, etc.

At 4pm, the university's vice-chancellor, treasurer, proctor and registrar, along with top teachers and officials of the administration, arrived at the scene, expressing solidarity with the three-point charter of demands and met with the police commissioner of Ramna Zone.

The discussion, however, returned no results as the VC Md Rezaul Karim, Treasurer Sabina Sharmin, Proctor Muhammad Tazammol Hoque and Registrar Sheikh Giash Uddin went to the chief advisor in Jamuna.

On their way to Jamuna, the law enforcers accused the President of the Jagannath University Teachers' Association Md Mosharraf Hossain of “misbehaviour” and the students erupted in protest again and proceeded to try and smash through the barricades.

Mosharraf said, “They can't insult us like this. We are university teachers and dutiful people. They have been misbehaving with our teachers and students since noon.”

He demanded that action be taken against members of the police force who “attacked” and “misbehaved” with them.

At 6:30pm, a five-strong delegation of teachers, including the vice-chancellor and treasurer, went to the chief advisor's residence again, and remained there until 8pm.

The students then continued demonstrating at the Kakrail Mosque intersection and the chief advisor's residence.

Expressing solidarity with the protesting students, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Central President Bin Yamin Mollah said Jagannath University is one of the educational institutions that played a key role in the July Uprising.

“We condemn the chief advisor. If you do not show solidarity, we will catch you and ask you in what capacity you became an advisor. In which logical movement of students have you shown solidarity? There is no hall in a university in the heart of Dhaka, yet hundreds of thousands and tens of millions of taka are being laundered. They will not accept our demands, and we will question them one by one, what have they done for the country so far?"

Mehedi Hasan Himel, convener of the Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal’s Jagannath University chapter, demanded that action be taken against the police personnel who attacked the protesters within 24 hours.

The demands are:

• Housing allowances for 70 percent of students until accommodation is ensured.

• Full approval of the proposed budget for Jagannath University without any cuts.

• Approval of the university's second campus project in the next ECNEC meeting and its implementation on a priority basis.