JnU students defy ban
Defying the Jagannath University (JnU) authorities' ban, its students yesterday staged daylong demonstrations demanding withdrawal of a “development fee” charged with first year admission fees.
Afterwards JnU's syndicate meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, at around 3:00pm decided to shut JnU down for an indefinite period, cancel the studentship of the protesters and termed the demand “irrational”.
One syndicate member said, “The meeting decided that the VC could take any step such as closing down the university at any time and suspending or canceling the studentship of any protester.
“The meeting observed that a few students were trying to create anarchy in the name of the movement which is not supported by general students.”
Yesterday's demonstration, including abstention from classes and exams, resulted from the stalemate of Tuesday's meeting between the VC and the agitating students.
Witnesses said the students staged a demonstration at JnU's Shaheed Minar premises. Another group of students paraded English Road, Roy Shaheb Bazar and Johnson Road of Old Dhaka.
After the last BNP-led government upgraded Jagannath College to a university in mid-2005, a law was enacted stating that the institution would have to fund itself after five years.
Students began protesting at around mid-2011 against the law and the development fee and for the recovery of its halls, which are illegally occupied.
After September, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a continuation of JnU's government funding but the two remaining demands remained unsettled.
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