JnU protests called off

Prof Rais Uddin, general secretary of JnU Teachers' Association, made the announcement at Kakrail intersection, the protest site, in the capital around 8:30pm, three days after the start of the demonstrations. 

All the activities of the university will resume tomorrow, he said moments after University Grants Commission Chairman Prof SMA Faiz visited the site and said the government accepted their demands.

The development came hours after the students began a mass hunger strike at 3:30pm to press home their four-point demand. The students and teachers have been protesting since Wednesday.

Jagannath University students stage a hunger strike yesterday afternoon at Kakrail intersection, on the third day of their demonstration, to press home their four-point demand. Photo: Rashed Shumon, Rakib Madber

Sources in the teacher and student protesters said the government has decided to increase the budget allocation for Jagannath University to Tk 251 crore and has sanctioned an additional Tk 20 crore for the construction of a temporary residential hall. It also assured that the construction of a second campus would be prioritised under a fast-track project.

The UGC chairman, along with Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Prof Rezaul Karim, ended the students' hunger strike by offering them water.

The protesters said they would hold a press briefing soon to give their reaction.

Talking to the protesters in Kakrail, the UGC chairman said the commission worked tirelessly throughout the day to address the students' concerns.

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JnU students begin mass hunger strike

"Our only aim was to ensure that our students are not left out on the streets," he said. "I can assure you that the UGC and university authorities will move forward as a family."

Expressing optimism, he added, "If we stay united, inshallah, we will be able to resolve all the ongoing issues. If we cannot solve the crisis ourselves, no one from outside will be able to do it."

He also said they worked in coordination with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Education Adviser CR Abrar, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed and others to find a solution.

JnU VC Prof Rezaul Karim gives water to students who broke their hunger strike last night after it was announced that the government has agreed to meet their demands. Photo: Rashed Shumon, Rakib Madber

On Wednesday afternoon, violence broke out when police intercepted the students' "Long March to Jamuna" from the university's Shaheed Minar. Around 12:40pm, police charged baton and lobbed tear gas shells near Kakrail as protesters attempted to breach barricades.

Over 50 people, including teachers, students, and journalists, were injured. At least 38 individuals were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, protesters staged a sit-in in Kakrail, blocking nearby roads. JnU VC Prof Rezaul and other teachers later joined the demonstration.

The four demands of the students are the introduction of a housing allowance for 70 percent of students from the 2025-26 fiscal year until residential facilities are ensured, approval of JnU's proposed FY26 budget without cuts, approval of the construction of a second campus at the next ECNEC meeting as a priority project, and the punishment of police personnel who attacked students and teachers on Wednesday.