The Ministry of Education has issued a written directive to the Jagannath University administration to take immediate steps to alleviate the university’s student accommodation crisis.
The ministry’s directive suggests renting nearby houses as temporary dormitories for students, allowing for a quick resolution to the residential shortage.
The instructions were part of a detailed set of decisions issued on Thursday during a review meeting for the ongoing project, "Establishment of New Campus of Jagannath University: Land Acquisition and Development."
Among the directives, the ministry urged the university to accelerate the land acquisition process under the development project by maintaining constant communication with the Dhaka District Administration.
Additionally, the university is required to promptly appoint a Director (Planning and Development) and propose that this official serve as the Project Director, with the necessary approvals from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The ministry also specified that any remaining tasks under the current project that have yet to commence or where tenders are pending may be implemented by the Bangladesh Army as "assigned procurement work," following appropriate procedures.
The same consideration was proposed for the university’s second-phase development project, which could also be overseen by the Army.
Further directives include a proposal to increase the university’s operational budget through the UGC and submitting this request to the Department of Secondary and Higher Education for approval.
The university has also been encouraged to explore partnerships with domestic and international philanthropic organizations for donations or sponsorships to support the construction of facilities at the new campus.
The UGC has been directed to establish an investigation committee to examine any instances of corruption within the current project, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Vice-Chancellor of Jagannath University, Professor Dr Rezaul Karim, expressed optimism regarding the ministry’s directive. “We will now proceed with implementing these steps. We have already been working on these issues, but recent student movements have made it easier to address them,” he said, promising a swift resolution to student concerns.
Professor Karim further added that he had recently met with UGC officials to discuss the appointment of a new Project Director. “Once approved, the new PD will be appointed without delay,” he said.
Regarding recent confusion over the terms "second campus" and "new campus," he said: “This is the official project title. We’ll ensure that ‘second campus’ is clearly specified in all future projects.”
Jagannath University student Shamim Islam welcomed the ministry’s directive, saying: “We now hope these actions will be implemented promptly. We want a healthy, stable environment where students’ rights are upheld.”
