JnU to build three halls in one year
The authorities of Jagannath University will construct three dormitories and rent at least two buildings near the campus to provide accommodation to students within one year.
The decision was made at a five-hour long meeting attended by the teachers, officials, and employees of the university in its auditorium yesterday with the vice-chancellor in the chair.
Sources at the meeting said the three halls, including one for female students, would be built on lands to be gained through recovery of two occupied dormitories and a playfield of the university. They are Bani Bhaban on Pyaridas Road and Dr Habibur Rahman Hostel in Golok Paul Lane and the Dhupkhola Math (field).
The meeting, which was held a day after the closure of the university following four days' of violent protest by the students, did not take any decision of recovering the other dormitories from illegal occupiers, said the sources.
JnU students launched protest on September 25 to press different demands, including continuation of government funding, recovery of 12 dormitories from illegal occupiers, and arrangement of adequate transport facilities. The 12 halls of the university have been occupied illegally for years by unscrupulous people belonging both to the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP.
JnU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mejbahuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star last evening that they have decided to acquire lands of two dormitories and a playground immediately for the construction of three halls, including one for the female students, by one year and also to hire some buildings in the adjacent areas on rent for the accommodation of the students.
The VC said they also discussed various issues, which seemed to them to have triggered unrest among 23,000 students of the university. “We tried to identify all the problems of the university and its students as well as their demands. We also tried to discover ways out of the problems”.
Prof Mejbah said they decided to realise the government's assurance regarding the cancellation of the clause 27 (4), which deals with funding of JnU, through discussion with the government high-ups by October 9.
“More transports will be arranged for transportation of teachers and students, the university canteen will be subsidised for better food supply at cheaper cost, and scholarships and stipends would be provided to meritorious students while financial supports to the poor students”, the VC said.
Asked about the other dormitories, he said they would take measures to recover the remaining ones later.
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