M M Jasim :
The government has taken various initiatives for the Jagannath University (JnU) with a view to making it as “complete university” and resolving the on going movement of the students.
“We have decided to build a campus for the JnU to make it as complete university in the outskirts of the capital at Keraniganj as there is no adequate space to run all the academic activities properly on the existing campus in Old Dhaka,” said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid.
The minister said this at a press conference to clear the government’s stance following the Cabinet decision about the JnU at its meeting held at the Secretariat on Monday.
The decision came amid ongoing protests for almost a month by the students of the university demanding residential halls.
“The JnU is now facing various problems, including residential facilities for the students, teachers and officials, modern laboratory, standard library, research centre and good auditorium. It cannot be a complete university without these modern amenities,” the minister said.
“The Education Ministry has already bought 25-bigha land in Keraniganj to build a 10-storey building as a residential hall for students. It has the plan to buy more lands where academic buildings, more students’ residential halls, teachers’ quarters,
residential facilities for the officials and employees, and other necessary establishments with modern amenities will be ensured,” Nahid said.
He said that the ministry already discussed the matter with the vice-chancellor, teachers and students’ representatives.
“The vice-chancellor, teachers and students’ representatives agreed with us to buy more lands for the JnU at Keraniganj. I have been continuing discussion with the vice-chancellor time to time,” he said.
Asking about the existing campus of the university located at Old Dhaka’s Chittaranjan Avenue, the minister said both the campuses would be used for academic purpose. The university authorities will decide how they use the existing campus and for what purpose, he said.
“We will acquire more land if needed. Our government will do whatever is necessary to establish a modern university there,” Nahid said.
He said, “We are yet to take any plan to decorate the campus at Keraniganj. The ministry will take a master plan to run the work smoothly. But no time to delay, the work will start soon.”
The minister hoped that every ministry would help the Education Ministry in this regard. With the help of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina we will be able to resolve all the problems of the JnU, he said.
He assured that good academic ambience would be prevailed on the new campus.
It may be mentioned that the Jagannath College became university in 2005.
The students began their demonstration for the fourth time on August 2 this year for halls on the land where the Dhaka Central Jail was situated on Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka.
On August 17, the students staged a sit-in in front of the Jatiya Press Club after their attempts to lay siege to the Education Ministry was foiled by police.
The students demonstrated in 2014. No classes and examinations were held that time. The teachers also expressed solidarity with the students’ demand.
The students also demonstrated on April 19, 2013 demanding recovery of nine dormitories occupied by land grabbers.
The students of the university have started their movement for halls from the begging of the university. The movement geared up in 2009, but failed for the attack of the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, JnU unit.
The government has taken various initiatives for the Jagannath University (JnU) with a view to making it as “complete university” and resolving the on going movement of the students.
“We have decided to build a campus for the JnU to make it as complete university in the outskirts of the capital at Keraniganj as there is no adequate space to run all the academic activities properly on the existing campus in Old Dhaka,” said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid.
The minister said this at a press conference to clear the government’s stance following the Cabinet decision about the JnU at its meeting held at the Secretariat on Monday.
The decision came amid ongoing protests for almost a month by the students of the university demanding residential halls.
“The JnU is now facing various problems, including residential facilities for the students, teachers and officials, modern laboratory, standard library, research centre and good auditorium. It cannot be a complete university without these modern amenities,” the minister said.
“The Education Ministry has already bought 25-bigha land in Keraniganj to build a 10-storey building as a residential hall for students. It has the plan to buy more lands where academic buildings, more students’ residential halls, teachers’ quarters,
residential facilities for the officials and employees, and other necessary establishments with modern amenities will be ensured,” Nahid said.
He said that the ministry already discussed the matter with the vice-chancellor, teachers and students’ representatives.
“The vice-chancellor, teachers and students’ representatives agreed with us to buy more lands for the JnU at Keraniganj. I have been continuing discussion with the vice-chancellor time to time,” he said.
Asking about the existing campus of the university located at Old Dhaka’s Chittaranjan Avenue, the minister said both the campuses would be used for academic purpose. The university authorities will decide how they use the existing campus and for what purpose, he said.
“We will acquire more land if needed. Our government will do whatever is necessary to establish a modern university there,” Nahid said.
He said, “We are yet to take any plan to decorate the campus at Keraniganj. The ministry will take a master plan to run the work smoothly. But no time to delay, the work will start soon.”
The minister hoped that every ministry would help the Education Ministry in this regard. With the help of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina we will be able to resolve all the problems of the JnU, he said.
He assured that good academic ambience would be prevailed on the new campus.
It may be mentioned that the Jagannath College became university in 2005.
The students began their demonstration for the fourth time on August 2 this year for halls on the land where the Dhaka Central Jail was situated on Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka.
On August 17, the students staged a sit-in in front of the Jatiya Press Club after their attempts to lay siege to the Education Ministry was foiled by police.
The students demonstrated in 2014. No classes and examinations were held that time. The teachers also expressed solidarity with the students’ demand.
The students also demonstrated on April 19, 2013 demanding recovery of nine dormitories occupied by land grabbers.
The students of the university have started their movement for halls from the begging of the university. The movement geared up in 2009, but failed for the attack of the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, JnU unit.
