- Dhaka
Students, teachers, and other stakeholders of Jagannath University (JnU), under the banner of Jagannath University Oikyo, have declared an indefinite shutdown of the university until their demands are met.
Professor Rais Uddin, General Secretary of the Jagannath University Teachers' Association, made the announcement, stating, “Threats will not silence us. Our demands are legitimate. The university will remain closed until they are fulfilled.”
Meanwhile, JnU students have continued their blockade at the capital's Kakrail intersection for the second consecutive day, now pressing a four-point demand. The protesters have vowed to maintain their sit-in until the government issues a clear and official response.
Reflecting on the previous day's events, Prof. Rais said he had formally expressed regret to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser on behalf of the teachers' association.
“However,” he added, “that adviser is a former student of ours. Our students have been protesting peacefully for two days now, yet the government remains unresponsive. This is the same government that rose to power on the sacrifices of July revolutionaries—now it turns its back on them. We helped elevate these people to positions of power, and today, they stand against us.”
In response to the escalating tensions, law enforcement has tightened security around the official residence of the chief adviser.
Clashes between demonstrators and police erupted yesterday during the “Long March to Jamuna” programme at Kakrail. Around 12:40 PM, police charged protesters with batons and fired tear gas shells, leaving over 50 people injured, including students, teachers, and journalists. Prof. Rais Uddin was among those injured.
Later in the evening, around 10:10 PM, Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam visited the protest site in an attempt to mediate. However, tensions quickly flared as a section of students began chanting “Bhua, Bhua” (fake, fake), according to our correspondent on the scene.
Following the unrest, at least 300 JnU students and teachers spent the night on the street in front of the Kakrail mosque.
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