The students of Jagannath University (JnU) staged demonstration on the campus for the sixth consecutive day yesterday to press for their demand to recover residential halls of the university grabbed by local influential.
Hundreds of students, led by JnU Chhatra League President Shariful Islam, boycotted classes and exams as per previously announced programmes.
The agitated students locked the main gate of the university, barring all vehicles to enter into the campus till 1pm. The teachers of the university were, however, allowed to enter.
All staffs and students were standing in front of the main gate and demonstrated at Bahadur Shah Park intersection, setting fire on tyres that suspended all vehicular movement in the area.
The four-hour long blockade resulted in heavy traffic congestion in the area, creating enormous sufferings to city dwellers.
Addressing the agitated students, JnU Chhatra League President Shariful said they wanted nothing but a solution to the students’ sufferings, adding that the demonstration would be continued till their demands were met.
The agitated students also organised a mass signature campaign in support of their demands.
The demonstration was called off for the day after declaring the next day programme: a sit-in in front of the university administrative building.
Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of police of Lalbagh Division, told the Dhaka Tribune that no untoward situation took place during the demonstration.
Asked, Prof Mizanur Rahman, vice-chancellor of the university, said demonstration would not produce any result.
“We are working on it and appealed to government to get the halls back. We are hopeful,” the VC said.