JU students announce decision to stay in dorms

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday announced their decision to stay in dorms despite the education minister's press conference where she announced the date of re-opening higher education institutions.

Besides, they raised a five-point demand, including the withdrawal of the university administration's notification of leaving dorms, at a press conference on the transport premises of the university.

Earlier, a statement signed by the acting registrar of the university, Rahima Kaniz, said students who had broken dorm locks demanding security would have to leave dorms by 10am on Monday.

Protesting the directive, students started gathering on the transport premises. Later, they brought out a procession from there.

The procession ended in front of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, and the outraged students broke the lock of the dorm. Later, the residential students of the dorm entered there.

The agitating students announced that if the university authorities did not meet their demands, they would go for the next programme.

Sharmin Akhter, a student of 46th batch of the department of botany, said she had thanked the education minister for announcing the re-opening of classes and dorms, students' demand about staying in dorms would remain unchanged.

"We applaud the statement of the education minister. However, the situation at JU is not like other universities. Many of the students are staying in different places adjacent to the campus, which is not safe for them at all," she said.

"In this context, we are still adamant about our decision on staying in dorms and female students will break into dorms in phases," she added.

Another student of the university, Fayezar Mahmud Shaolin, said, "I respectfully rejected the announcement of the education minister. At present, we have no choice but to stay. So, we will stay in dorms."

Professor Motahar Hossain of the university said, "We went to each dorm and asked students to leave. They did not accept our offer."

Acting proctor of the university ASM Firoz-ul-Hasan said, "After the education minister's press conference, we are persuading students to leave dorms. We are still hopeful that they will leave, respecting the decision of the state."

On Monday, the number of students in male dorms increased compared to the day before. Students are staying in eight male dorms, with female students staying in Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.

Students said if the number of pupils increased, they would stay in other dorms.

Four days ago, students demanded security after they had clashed with locals in Gerua area adjacent to the university. Many more joined them on Sunday and Monday.

Their five-point demand also includes identifying and arresting "terrorists" of Gerua along with their instigators, and filing cases against identified persons instead of unidentified ones.

They warned to announce a strict programme on the 24th of this month if these demands were not met.

JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam could not be reached for comment on the phone.