Students, villagers clash closes JSTU indefinitely

Jessore Science and Technology University (JSTU) was declared shut for an indefinite period after students clashed with villagers over arrogant remarks by a local youth yesterday.
The authorities of the university, where around 2,000 students study, also vacated the three dormitories--one for females and two for males--fearing reprisal from the residents of the adjoining Ambot Tala village.
Police and an official said the students were celebrating at the university main gate after the vice chancellor announced to reduce fees for master's admission from Tk 18,000 to Tk 10,000 and semester fees from Tk 4,500 to Tk 3,000 yesterday morning, which they had been demanding since late May.
At that time, Badal, a local, made "crude" remarks at the students, prompting them to attack him. When Badal called in 7-8 villagers on three motorbikes, the students burnt those. Soon, scores of villagers with sticks and stones retaliated. The clash continued until Kotwali police intervened.