Jahangirnagar University shut sine die

Published: November 05, 2019 15:21:57 | Updated: November 05, 2019 18:57:31

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has been closed sine die in the wake of an attack allegedly launched by members of the BCL (Bangladesh Chhatra League) JU unit on the students confining the vice chancellor to her official residence demanding her resignation on graft charges.

The protesting students were asked to leave the campus by 4:30 in the afternoon, according to local media reports.

The protesters had been laying their siege to the VC's residence to press home their demand since around 7:30pm on Monday, under the banner of ‘Jahangirnagar Against Corruption’.

Speaking on the occasion, JU unit Samajtantrik Chhatra Front preident Mahathir Muhammad said they had given the VC much time to step aside but she would not pay any heed to this.

“Instead, she has lodged a false case against the protesting students to thwart the movement,” he said.

Agitating teachers and students had said they would not leave the place until the removal of the ‘controversial’ VC.

On Sunday night, the protesting teachers also held a meeting with education minister Dr Dipu Moni to resolve the crisis. However, the meeting ended inconclusively.

The students started the protests in August, demanding a judicial inquiry into the reported involvement of the vice-chancellor with the corruption and mismanagement of a Tk 14.45-billion campus development project.

Allegations have it that the VC had managed the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) JU unit leaders with Tk 160 million from the development fund.