Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Jagannath University (JnU) teachers and students have declared that they will not leave Kakrail until their demands are met.
They have blocked the road leading towards Jamuna in the Kakrail area.
At around 3:30pm on Wednesday, the teachers and students announced their sit-in on the road. At the time, they said the attack on their teachers and fellow students must be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, over 100 people have been injured in a police attack on the demonstrating JnU teachers and students. Among the injured, at least 38, including students, teachers and journalists, are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The injured include: Redwan, 24; Asif, 20; Rahman, 22; Akib, 21; Arif, 22; Rafique, 25; Shafique, 25; Omar Faruk, 24; Arthib, 21; Apel, 21; Mujahid, 23; Raihan, 23; Faruk, 23; Abu Bakkar, 22; Newton, 20; Hanif, 22; Jibon, 22; Shahid, 20; Rasel, 22; Jisan, 22; Shahid, 24; Rasel, 23; Gaurab, 25; Abdul Mannan, 22; Nahid, 23; Jewel, 23; Mohon, 22; Sohanur Rahman Sani, 24; Masuma, 20; Sangram, 20; Baitul, 22; Raju, 22; Sumon, 22; Rajib, 22; Akash, 22; Subarno Assaif, JnU correspondent and JnU Press Club president, age not specified; Mahatab Limon, 23; Mehedi Hasan, 24.
Additionally, Professor Dr Md Rais Uddin, general secretary of the university's teachers’ association Professor Dr Md Rais Uddin, English department teacher Nasir Uddin, History department teacher Mohammad Bilal Hossain, and Assistant Proctor Naim Siddiqui were also injured.
Professor Dr Rais Uddin, who was injured in the police attack, said: “We are deeply aggrieved by the government’s actions. An attack was carried out on our teachers and students. Over 100 students were injured. The police must be held accountable for this.”
Earlier in the day, at 11am, JnU students began a long march towards the residence of the chief adviser with three demands. During the march, police charged batons, fired tear gas and sound grenades.
Protesting students said that as soon as they crossed Matshya Bhaban and reached the intersection near Kakrail mosque, police launched an attack. At that time, the police fired tear gas, sound grenades, and sprayed hot water. The three-point demand of the protesters:
From the 2025–26 fiscal year, 70% of JnU students must receive a housing stipend until a permanent housing solution is ensured.
The proposed full budget for JnU for the 2025–26 fiscal year must be approved without any cuts.
The construction of JnU’s second campus must be approved at the next Ecnec meeting and implemented as a priority project.
Police have intercepted a protest march by Jagannath University (JnU) teachers and students as they headed towards the chief advisor’s official residence, charging batons and throwing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Law enforcers also hurled stun grenades and blasted water at the protesters, who backed away near the Kakrail Mosque on Wednesday.
At least 25 people were injured in the process and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), according to officers at the DMCH police outpost.
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 Kakrail, 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.
The protesters said they will continue the movement until their demands are met.
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.
A delegation of JnU students and teachers went to the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday to present the list of demands. Met with no response, they announced a “March to Jamuna” protest under the banner of “July Unity”.
Teachers from Jagannath University, along with student groups and cultural and political organisations, also took part in the demonstration.
