Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud has said the Ministry of Education has no objection to the construction of Jagannath University’s (JnU) second campus being handed over to the army.
“A new campus for Jagannath University in Keraniganj had been pending with the Planning Commission,” the adviser said on Tuesday following a meeting with university officials.
“I took the initiative to have it approved at an Ecnec meeting. This is a massive, self-sustaining project, the likes of which we have not seen since the establishment of Jahangirnagar and Chittagong universities in the late Pakistan era. The project documents were stalled at the Planning Commission for a long time, and I pushed to have it approved. This could be seen as a significant mega project for the interim government,” he added.
In response to students’ demands, the adviser said: “We understand why students are frustrated by the campus delays and pending land acquisitions. They have raised concerns over alleged corruption involving the project director, which the university should investigate. They may also appoint a new project director if needed.”
When asked about students’ calls for army involvement, Wahiduddin said: “The students want the army to oversee the project’s implementation, and we have no objections. If the JnU administration, which operates largely autonomously, agrees, the Ministry of Education will support connecting them with the army.”
Asked if these assurances might lead to an end to student protests, he said: “We have addressed many of their demands. Despite my poor health, I came here to listen to their concerns. Officials from the UGC and the Ministry of Education were present, and the students were respectful. We hope for their cooperation.”
Following this assurance, Jagannath University students announced the withdrawal of their ongoing protests.
They made this announcement at the Secretariat after a meeting with Education and Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam.
The meeting began at 12:20pm and lasted about 50 minutes. JnU Vice-Chancellor Dr Rezaul Karim, Treasurer Dr Sabina Sharmin, Proctor Dr Tajammul Haque, Prof Rais Uddin, and student representatives Tausif Mahmud Sohan and AKM Rakib were in attendance.
On Monday, thousands of JnU students staged a demonstration at the Secretariat with a five-point demand, including the request to hand over the second campus project to the army.
Nahid Islam, adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, then assured them that their demands would be addressed within the next three days.
The demands are as follows:
The project director appointed during the "autocratic" regime must be brought under legal action, and within seven days, this responsibility should be handed over to competent officers from the army.
Besides, the Ministry of Education must make a specific announcement, along with a clear roadmap, that the second campus project of JnU has been handed over to the army. Immediate steps must be taken to acquire the remaining 11 acres of land, and all agreements made concerning the old campus during the last government’s rule must be cancelled.
Jagannath University must be included in the recently announced pilot project by the UGC. The university’s annual budget allocation should be a minimum of Tk500 crore.
Unrest
A 12-member student delegation attempted on Monday to meet the education secretary, who declined, leading to further unrest.
Later, Nahid Islam addressed the students in front of the Secretariat, initially facing chants and resistance. He eventually spoke to the students, promising to fulfil their demands within three days.
Subsequently, a 12-member student delegation met with Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Dr M Aminul Islam and Adviser Nahid Islam.
Five faculty members, including the proctor, were also present at the meeting, which concluded with plans for the meeting held on Tuesday.