Shubhashis Saha :
Jagannath University (JnU) has got almost Tk 2000-crore funding in ECNEC for ‘JnU New Campus Project’ at Keranigonj. It’s undoubtedly a good initiative taken by authority and also the Government deserves a clap for the permission.
But at the same time it’s a matter of regret and worry that some newspapers are writing that new campus will be given in exchange of old one which is absolutely unacceptable as JnU is not an institution of only 13 years rather it has a long history of over 150 years.
And we (Batch 1- upcoming Batch 22/25) have or will have a genuine bonding with the present campus. Besides, the students of previous batches also have a close bonding with this campus. My question is how we can reminiscence the sweet memories of our university life without our own campus. How can we, ex-students, tolerate this horrendous decision? Is it possible to delete all the memories of 9-10 Chittaranjan Das Avenue? Yes, I do believe that we need a larger campus with all the amenities of a full-fledged university and obviously our present campus doesn’t fulfill the demand of a larger campus. But it doesn’t mean that we have to surrender the present university campus to Government. If it is the plan of authority then what was the necessity of establishing a women’s hall?
Besides, Jagannath University has a value amongst students mostly for its placement at Dhaka City. I think only the placement has made JnU already a frontier than RU, JU, CU or any other established universities. For its placement at Dhaka, JnU has been the place of attraction to the new students and that’s why we are getting a large number of meritorious students each year. And also students of JnU are performing very well in the job field.
‘Joga Babur Pathshala’ is turning into an eminent University for its students and also for its promising faculties.
I hope the academic activities will be continued in this campus as usual even after the establishment of new campus. And at minimum level of expectation, I think the present campus can be turned into a research institution where M.Phil, PhD degrees can be provided from.
(Shubhashis Saha was the 1st Batch student of JnU currently working as a Lecturer, Department of English, Notre Dame College)
