by 
Dhaka, May 14, 2025 : Hundreds of students from Jagannath University (JnU) faced baton charges, sound grenades, and tear gas from law enforcement during their "Long March to Yamuna" on Wednesday. The march, which began at 11:00 AM from the university campus, was aimed at the Chief Adviser's Office to press for their three-point demands.
The students broke through several police barricades en route but were halted at Kakrail crossing, where clashes erupted. Protesters and police engaged in brick-throwing and chases, leading to the use of sound grenades and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The march was announced after a meeting with University Grants Commission (UGC) officials failed to address the students' demands, including budget increases and solutions to the housing crisis. Students accused the UGC of offering vague assurances. On Monday, a student-teacher rally had raised these issues, followed by discussions among campus organizations that culminated in the march's announcement.
The students' three demands are:
- Implementation of a housing scholarship for 70% of JnU students starting from the 2025-26 fiscal year until proper housing is ensured.
- Approval of JnU’s proposed full budget for 2025-26 without cuts.
- Approval of JnU’s second campus in the next ECNEC meeting, prioritizing its implementation.
The students vowed to boycott classes and exams until their demands are met. As of the latest reports, protesters have staged a sit-in on the road after facing police resistance, joined by several faculty members. While injuries were reported due to the baton charge, the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed.
AI/MR
