Jagannath students demonstrate to free dorms

Students of Jagannath University stage a sit-in in front of the Shishu Academy demanding government steps to retrieve their dormitories from grabbers as police intercepted them while proceeding towards secretariat in a procession.Photo: STAR

Several hundred students of Jagannath University (JNU) yesterday staged a demonstration to press home their eight-point demand including freeing their halls from illegal occupants.
They also held a meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at his office and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard.
The education minister assured the students of meeting their demands and solving their problems soon.
JNU students brought out the procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at about 11:30 am. Police intercepted the procession at Dowel Chattar on its way to the education ministry at about 12:00 noon. Students then held a rally there.
Speakers at the rally demanded complete withdrawal of cases filed against the students, cancellation of the section 27 (4) of the university ordinance and shifting of the Bangladesh Bank office from the campus.
After the rally a two-member delegation of students went to the ministry to meet the education minister at his office.
At the meeting, the minister assured them of taking immediate steps to meet their demands.
Earlier, the university authorities closed the university for sine die following violent clashes between students and police on Jan 27 over the issue of freeing university dormitories from illegal grabbers.