Protesters announce ‘shutdown’ of Jagannath University to press home 3-point demand

The protesting students and teachers of Jagannath University have announced a “shutdown” on the campus to press home their three-point charter of demands.

Professor Rais Uddin, general secretary of the university's teachers’ association, announced the programme after a discussion with the representatives of the protesting students on Thursday.

Addressing the protesters at the capital’s Kakrail in the afternoon, he said: "We are here with the demands for the rights of Jagannath University. But police attacked us indiscriminately with support from people in the government. This is completely unfair and unjust.

“We are not here to speak up against anyone. We won't go home, and the shutdown of Jagannath University will continue until the demands are met.”

He said, "Any attempt to remove us from here won’t work. No one can hurt my students in front of my eyes."

Staging a sit-in outside the chief justice’s residence, the protesters said the demonstrations would continue until the Chief Advisor’s Office sends word of assurance.

They intermittently shouted slogans, including “No compromise, only struggle”, “Won’t listen to meaningless banter, long march to Jamuna”, “If you want blood, give blood, but give us housing”, etc.

Earlier, scores of Jagannath University students poured in from buses in Kakrail to express solidarity with their protesting fellows who continued demonstrating over a three-point list of demands.

Students arrived in droves boarding at least 30 regular and double-decker buses from the university between 10am and 1:30pm to join the protesters who remained on the streets overnight.

Earlier in the day, Prof Rais Uddin went on Facebook Live calling on students and teachers to join the protest. In response, at least five buses carrying teachers arrived at the scene in Kakrail.

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.

The protesters added another demand to the list on Thursday, alleging a "police attack” on the demonstration.

Their new demand calls for an inquiry into the police attack on the students on Wednesday and the punishment for those involved.

On Wednesday, the JnU teachers and students launched the “March to Jamuna” procession from the campus with the demands. 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.

Later, the university authorities held a meeting with police. When the discussion was not fruitful, the officials of the university administration went to Jamuna.

At that time, the members of the law-enforcement agencies were accused of 'misbehaving' with Mosharraf Hossain, the president of the teachers' association.

In this situation, the students and teachers have been protesting on the road outside the Kakrail Mosque intersection and the chief justice's residence since 8pm.