The academic activities at Jagannath University (JnU) have been suspended indefinitely after the university's Teachers’ Association declared a shutdown in solidarity with protesting students demanding housing support, budget restoration, and accountability for police action.
The announcement came Thursday (May 15) afternoon from Professor Dr Rais Uddin, General Secretary of the JnU Teachers’ Association, while addressing students who have been staging a sit-in in Dhaka’s Kakrail area for nearly 24 hours.
“We have not come to conspire or speak against anyone. We are here to demand our rights,” said Professor Rais Uddin. “No classes or examinations will take place at Jagannath University until these demands are fulfilled. We will not return home without achieving justice.”
Tensions escalated on Wednesday when students and teachers began a long march toward the chief advisor’s residence to press for their demands.
As the rally approached Kakrail Mosque around 1:15 pm, police reportedly fired tear gas, sound grenades, and hot water to disperse the crowd, followed by baton charges.
Over 100 individuals, including students, teachers, and journalists, were injured in the clashes.
That night, Advisor Mahfuz attempted to address the protesters but was met with jeers and chants of “We want housing, not deprivation” and “Justice for the attack.”
The situation turned hostile when a protester hurled a water bottle at the advisor, forcing him to abruptly end the briefing.
The students have presented a four-point list of demands:
1. Introduction of housing scholarships for at least 70% of JnU students from the 2025–26 fiscal year.
2. Full approval of the proposed budget by the JnU Students’ Welfare Association without cuts.
3. ECNEC’s approval and implementation of the university’s second campus.
4. An impartial investigation into the police action on May 14 and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Many of the students have been camping out on the streets near Kakrail, refusing to leave despite exhaustion. “We’re not tired of demanding our rights,” said one protester wrapped in a university flag, as chants of solidarity continued to echo through the area.
The university and government authorities are yet to issue an official response to the shutdown and growing unrest.
SMS/
