JU students vow to stay on campus, continue protest

Jahangirnagar University students, who have been demonstrating demanding removal of the university vice chancellor, today decided to continue their movement on the campus defying the authorities’ restriction.

They took the fresh vow this afternoon, hours after JU authorities warned of taking action against the students if they do not vacate their dormitories by this afternoon.

Nazir Amin Chowdhury Joy, one of the organisers of the movement, said they rejected the university authorities’ decision to vacant the dormitories forcibly.

“If authorities with the help of police try to drive students away from the halls, we will stay on campus and its adjacent areas at night and continue our movement from tomorrow morning,” Nazir said.

Photo: Star

The JU authorities shut down the university for an indefinite period yesterday after Chhatra League men assaulted the teachers and students who confined Vice-chancellor Prof Farzana Islam at her residence demanding her resignation over corruption allegations.

They asked the students to vacate the halls by 5:30pm yesterday and also imposed ban on processions and rallies on the campus.

Defying the restriction, the students along with a section of teachers staged demonstration last night. A large number of female students broke out of their halls and joined the protesters.

Today, the students and teachers under the banner of “Jahangirnagar Against Corruption” brought out the procession on the campus and held a rally at the Shaheed Minar premises.

The agitating students and teachers took position in front of the residence of the VC till filling the report this evening.

Prof Raihan Rhyne, the spokesperson of the platform, said they will gather at Murad Chhattar on the university campus around 10:00am tomorrow and hold a rally there to press home their demand.

“We will stage demonstration until the VC resigns,” he vowed.

Earlier in the day, the JU authorities warned of taking action against the students if they do not vacate their dormitories by this afternoon.

The students were given time till 3:30pm today to leave the halls, Prof Bashir Ahmed, president of JU hall provost committee told The Daily Star at noon.