JnU to get new campus in Keraniganj

The government will build a new campus of Jagannath University (JnU) in Keraniganj with all modern facilities, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said yesterday.

The decision was made at the cabinet meeting, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the minister told a hurriedly called press briefing at his ministry.

“The new campus will be an addition to the current infrastructure and other resources of the university in Old Dhaka,” he said, adding the new campus would have academic buildings, a library, a laboratory, an auditorium, vice-chancellor's residence and dormitories for accommodating 30,000 students.

The existing establishments of the university will also remain in Old Dhaka, he added.

Nahid said the government has already purchased 25 bighas of land in Keraniganj and the process of acquiring more land there would start soon to construct new buildings.

He hoped the new campus would end the longstanding infrastructural crisis of the university.

Students of JnU began demonstrations on August 2 for new halls on the land of the erstwhile Dhaka central jail on Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka. Many students have been living at rented houses and messes as the authorities failed to manage accommodations for them.

Around 21,000 students are now studying at JnU.

On Sunday, a 13-member delegation of Jagannath University Teachers Association met the education minister to discuss the overall development of the university, including construction of new halls.