JU finally cancels development fee

Following protests, the Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities yesterday decided to cancel development fees taken from honours first year students, and graduates enrolling for master's programmes.

The fee was being collected for creating a fund for developing infrastructure of  departments at JU.

From next year, JU will not take any development fees from freshmen honours students, and manage the money from University Grants Commission (UGC) in coming years. The decision was made at an emergency meeting chaired by JU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Farzana Islam, with faculty deans and department heads present there, confirmed JU Acting Registrar Rahima Kaniz.

Yesterday, Pragatishil Chhatra Jote besieged administrative buildings, demanding cancellation of the department development fees. Over 30 students took position in front of the administrative buildings under the banner around 8am, blocking the main entrances. They withdrew the blockade around 3pm after getting assurance from the authorities.

Mohammad Dider, general secretary of JU Chhatra Front, said, “We have been demanding cancellation of the department development fees for the last couple of years. Finally, the authorities have paid heed to our demands. We appreciate this decision.”

Earlier, they submitted a memorandum containing 4,500 signatures of current students to the VC.