JU students march towards Jamuna: Police lathicharge, throw sound grenades and teargas

Lathicharge, sound grenades and teargas were hurled at Jagannath University students during their ‘Long March to Jamuna’ program. On Wednesday (May 14) at 11 am, several hundred students marched from the university campus towards the office of the Principal Advisor with this program.

The protesting students broke several police barricades along the way and moved forward. However, when they reached Kakrail intersection, they faced police obstacles. During this time, brickbats were thrown and chases and counter-chases took place between the protesting students and the police. At one stage, the law enforcement forces dispersed the students by throwing sound grenades and teargas.

It is learned that a student-teacher rally was held on the campus last Monday to fulfill the students’ demands. Later today, representatives of various organizations of the university and members of the teachers’ association participated in a meeting with officials of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Although the meeting discussed increasing the budget of JB and resolving the housing crisis, the students complained that their demands were not met.

According to them, the university and the students presented their respective demands properly, but the UGC, as usual, turned them away with assurances of responsibility. From there, representatives of all the organizations of the university discussed together and announced the ‘Long March to Jamuna’.

The students are holding this long march with three demands. They said that classes and examinations will be closed at the university until their demands are met.

Their three demands are—

1. Housing scholarships for 70 percent of JB students should be implemented from the 2025-26 fiscal year until the housing system is ensured.

2. The proposed full budget of JB for the 2025-26 fiscal year should be approved without any cuts.

3. The work of JBI’s second campus will be approved in the next ECNEC meeting and implemented under the priority project.

As of last news, it is known that students are sitting on the streets in the face of police obstruction. Several teachers of the university are also with them. Although there are reports of casualties in the lathicharge, the exact number of injured is not yet confirmed.