The students of Jagannath University on Monday continued their hunger strike for the second day running and later in the afternoon marched and blocked the road in front of the secretariat for about three hours, pressing a three-point demand, including commissioning of the construction work of the university鈥檚 second campus to the Bangladesh Army.
The protesting students, however, ended their hunger strike and the blockade of the road in the evening on the day after authorities assured them that the construction work would be given to the army.
Their two other demands are providing them with temporary dormitory facilities and dormitory allowances until permanent accommodations are ensured on the second campus.
Protesting students, who started their hunger strike on Sunday morning, began marching from the university campus about 4:00pm and upon reaching the road stretch in front of the secretariat about 4:45pm, they blockaded the road.
Addressing a press conference in front of the secretariat at about 7:30pm, AKM Rakib, a botany student, said that they were withdrawing the hunger strike after getting written commitment from the education ministry that the construction of the second campus would be given to the army.
The ministry would have a meeting with the army on Wednesday at which the construction project would be handed over to them, Rakib further said, referring to the commitment of the ministry.
鈥楢dditionally, there is a promise to construct a temporary steel-based facility for Bani Bhaban and Dr Habibur Rahman Hall. The Ministry has also pledged to assess and discuss the provision of stipends for 70 per cent students,鈥� said Rakib.
聽 He explained that two out of their three demands had been met and third one was under review.
鈥楢ll academic and administrative activities at the university will remain suspended until the outcome of Wednesday鈥檚 meeting,鈥� Rakib added.
Earlier on the day, students locked the university鈥檚 main gate.
Despite assurances from the vice chancellor, students have refused to end their hunger strike with around 15 participants hospitalised as they fell ill.
The ongoing protests have been sparked by the alleged prolonged delay and allegations of corruption in the university鈥檚 second campus construction work, which began six years back in Keraniganj.
The alleged minimal progress prompted the students to demand handing over of the project to the military.
The university鈥檚 13 students began the hunger strike, pressing for their 3-point demand鈥攕igning of an agreement to transfer the second campus construction project to the military; approval of steel-based temporary dormitory facilities in the compounds of the university鈥檚 Bani Bhaban building and Habibur Rahman Hall and immediate allocation of the necessary budget for erecting those structures;聽 providing accommodation allowances for 70 per cent of the students until hostel facilities starting from February 2025.
At a press conference at 3:00pm on Monday, Sajibur Rahman, a master鈥檚 student of Islamic history and culture and convener of the 鈥楯ustice for July鈥�, announced that the strike would continue until the ministry responded in writing.
He further warned of a complete shutdown of all academic and administrative activities at the university if their demands were not met at the scheduled meeting on Wednesday.
According to a Ministry of Education notice, a meeting involving ministry officials, the University Grants Commission, and military representatives is set to be held on Wednesday.
The meeting will finalise the handover plan and outline the military鈥檚 involvement in the second campus project. University authorities have indicated that the meeting would likely conclude with a definitive decision.
In an emergency press briefing held at the university鈥檚 Shaheed Minar on Monday, its treasurer Professor Sabina Shormin voiced support for the students鈥� demands. She acknowledged delays due to procedural complexities but assured that progress was now being expedited.
While talking to reporters on the campus after holding a meeting at the secretariat earlier on day, university vice-chancellor Rezaul Karim said that the University Grants Commission had forwarded a letter to the Ministry of Education and that Wednesday鈥檚 meeting would involve all relevant stakeholders.
鈥榃e have long been committed to transferring the project to the military. The final decision will be made during the meeting,鈥� he added.
