Protests force JU to postpone enrolment

The enrolment of successful candidates at Jahangirnagar University (JU) under the academic session 2016-17, was postponed yesterday for an indefinite period in the face of protests by left-leaning students against an increase in enrolment fees.

Muhammad Ali, JU deputy registrar (education), told The Daily Star that the postponement came after an emergency meeting with JU Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam in the chair.

As per a previous notification, the candidates were supposed to get their admission process done between December 8 and 15.

However, the protesters under the banner of "Progressive Students' Alliances" laid siege to the Agrani Bank office on the campus between 8:30am and 4:00pm, preventing the admission seekers from entering the bank to pay their enrolment fees. 

Last year the authorities hiked enrolment fees in the name of "department development fees" and some departments continue increasing the fees, alleged Zubair Tipu, president of JU Cultural Alliance.

"We have long been protesting the illegal hike, but the authorities did not heed our demands," alleged Susmita Morium, general secretary of JU Socialist Students Front.

"We will continue our movement until our demands are met" said Zubair. Earlier, on Monday, they brought out a procession for the same reasons.