Two factions of the Jahangirnagar University unit of Bangladesh Students’ Union on the campus on Sunday protested at the authority’s decision of constructing two six-storey academic buildings right beside the campus’s largest biologically enriched lake.
They brought out a procession from the university’s transport yard to stress three-point charter of demands, which include constructing building under a revised master plan, appointing professionals to the master plan formation committee and stopping felling down of trees immediately.
Following the procession, the demonstrators besieged the university vice-chancellor Professor Nurul Alam’s residence on the campus.
Addressing a rally in front of the VC residence, general secretary of the JU unit Bangladesh Students’ Union Riddhya Aninda said, ‘We are not against any development. But the development must be under a complete master plan and not destroying the ecological balance of the campus.’
Later, the VC Nurul Alam met the protesters. However, he did not assure them of meeting their demands.Â
Earlier, another faction of the Students’ Union led by its president Alif Mahmud formed a human chain on the campus, demanding a pause to the ongoing ‘unplanned’ development project and formation of a master plan.Â
Under ‘Jahangirnagar University Further Development Project’, the authorities are constructing a six storey extension building of the university’s arts and humanities faculty at the east side of the ‘migratory bird sanctuary lake-1’.
Besides, another six storey building are being constructed at the north side of the lake at the cost of Tk 94 crore, where Indian government is investing Tk 50 crore under ‘joint cultural assistance’.
