More than a hundred students and teachers were injured today (May 14) as police fired tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons at Jagannath University (JnU) protesters marching towards the Chief Adviser’s residence to press home their three-point demand.

The clash erupted around 12:15 pm at Kakrail intersection, Segunbagicha, where police attempted to block the advancing protesters.

Student Samiul Rahman, who was affected by tear gas, described the police action as excessive. 

“We were peacefully protesting for reasonable demands, but they fired tear gas directly at us,” he stated.

At Gulistan intersection, police set up barricades, but students and faculty members broke through and continued their march.

The protest follows a meeting on Tuesday (May 12), where a delegation of teachers and students sought assurances from the University Grants Commission (UGC). 

Dissatisfied with the lack of response, students launched the 'Long March to Jamuna' initiative, organized by July Unity, a coalition of political, social, and cultural groups within JnU.

The students have put forward three demands - 1. Housing scholarships for 70% of JnU students starting from the 2025-26 fiscal year, until permanent housing solutions are established. 2. Full budget approval for JnU in the 2025-26 fiscal year without any reductions. 3. Immediate approval and implementation of JnU's second campus under the next ECNEC meeting’s priority projects.

University Teachers' Association President Md. Mosharraf Hossain and General Secretary Professor Dr. Md. Raish Uddin, along with Proctor Professor Dr. Muhammad Tajammul Haque, joined the students in demanding urgent government action.

The protest also saw participation from representatives of Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan, and Public Rights Council, including Mehedi Hasan Himel, Shamsul Arefin, Md. Asadul Islam, Riazul Islam, Abdul Wahid, Ashikur Rahman Akash, AKM Rakib, and Raihan Hasan Rabbi.

SMS/