JnU Students Maintain Blockade for Second Consecutive Day

Students of Jagannath University (JnU) continued their blockade at Kakrail intersection in the capital for a second straight day today, pressing for the fulfillment of their now-expanded four-point demand. They have declared their intention to maintain the sit-in until the government provides a clear and official response.

Under the banner of Jagannath Oikyo, students, teachers, and other stakeholders have announced an indefinite suspension of academic activities at the university.

Prof Rais Uddin, general secretary of the JnU Teachers' Association, made the declaration, stating, “Threats won’t work. Our demands are legitimate. The university will remain closed until they are met.” He also said he had formally expressed regret to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser on behalf of the teachers' association over events that unfolded the previous day.

“That adviser is one of our former students,” he added. “Our students have been protesting peacefully for two days, yet the government has remained silent. This is the same government born from the blood of the July revolutionaries—now it discriminates against them. We helped elevate these very individuals to positions of power, and now they turn their backs on us.”

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have increased security around the official residence of the chief adviser.

On the previous day, the situation took a violent turn during the "Long March to Jamuna" programme when, around 12:40pm, police baton-charged demonstrators and fired tear gas shells. The resulting clashes left over fifty people injured, including students, teachers, and journalists—among them, Prof Rais Uddin.

Later, at around 10:10pm, Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam arrived at the protest site to engage in dialogue, but tensions escalated as some students began chanting “Bhua, Bhua” (fake, fake), further deteriorating the atmosphere, according to our staff correspondent.

That night, more than 300 students and teachers from JnU camped out on the street in front of the Kakrail mosque, vowing to continue their movement.