Jagannath University Students Continue Protests on Streets Through Day

Staff Correspondent

Students of Jagannath University continue their sit-in at Dhaka’s Kakrail, even through Thursday morning, pressing forward with their three-point demands.

Expressing solidarity, teachers joined the protests, declaring that no one would leave the streets until their demands are met.

The Kakrail area reverberated with handwritten slogans held by the students, such as “Long March to Jamuna,” “Why is my brother injured? Interim, answer now,” and “Jabians are coming, streets are shaking.”

One student leader stated, “If Jagannath University is not made fully operational, shut its activities entirely. We won’t leave the streets until the government accepts our demands.”

Another said, “We stayed on the streets all night. Braving rain and sun, we are protesting. If necessary, we will spend countless more nights here.”

The three demands are:

1. Introducing housing stipends for 70% of students starting from the 2025–26 fiscal year.
2. Approving the proposed full budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year without cuts.
3. Approval and priority implementation of the second campus project in the next ECNEC meeting.

On Wednesday afternoon, students and teachers began marching towards the Jamuna Building. Along the way, they faced police resistance in Gulistan, Secretariat, Education Building, High Court, and Matsya Bhaban.

When they reached near the Chief Justice’s residence, police fired tear gas shells and used sound grenades, injuring at least 50 students.

Over 25 of the injured are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

After the attack, students sought refuge at the Kakrail Mosque but soon resumed their march towards Jamuna.

At night, protestors expressed anger at comments made by an advisor and the police’s role. Allegations of “misconduct” with the president of the teachers’ association also surfaced.

From 8 PM onwards, students and teachers began their sit-in at Kakrail intersection, which continued into Thursday morning.