All words, no action

"We will take immediate steps" or "We will discuss the matter" are the common words of reassurance coming from the authorities. However, these words have made little to no effect when it comes to resolving the issues for real.

Over the last few years, Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have made many promises to its students regarding several unresolved issues. However, not much progress has been made on those fronts.

"We will take immediate steps" or "we will discuss the matter" are common words of reassurance coming from the authorities. However, these words have made little to no effect when it comes to resolving the issues for real.

On June 28, 2019, JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam declared to hold Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) polls by November that year, followed by a senate meeting.

A chief election commissioner was also appointed on July 31, 2019 for that purpose. But Jucsu polls are far from reality, even after two and a half years.

Recently, there were discussions regarding internet facilities, food quality and health insurance for students. On January 3, Rahima Kaneez, JU's acting registrar, told the media, "We will discuss health insurance for students with the authorities."

This newspaper, on January 18 published a detailed report on the university's waste management system, which has been non-functional since 2020. When this correspondent contacted the university's acting registrar regarding the issue, she again said, "I have come to know of the situation just now. We will discuss the matter."

"No measures regarding the issues are in effect, maybe because these 'discussions' never take place," said Ashfar Rahman Nabin, an international relations major, expressing his dissatisfaction over the authority's inaction.

"Do they make these commitments to resolve the issues or escape them?" Nabin posed the question.

Similar commitments were made about improving medical and library facilities, holding convocations and solving accommodation crises, but to no effect.

Students, too, have started to adjust to the present situation, having lost faith in the administration's intervention.

"Representatives of the authorities utter the same statement when asked about any issue, without actually working to resolve them. Problems, by then, become established realities," said Md Elanur Islam, a law student.

"JU is no different from our country in its arbitrariness. Students don't trust the authorities anymore for their fake promises made over the years," said Rakibul Rony, president of Bangladesh Student Union's JU chapter.

Prof Anu Mohammad, JU faculty member and eminent economist, echoed the same sentiments. "It has become a culture to manage the crisis through commitments. There is absolutely no accountability on the authorities' part."

"The government should show interest to uplift the universities from this crisis and create a culture of accountability," he added.

Asked, JU acting registrar Rahima Kaneez was unable to present any progress on their commitments.

"It's not like we don't discuss the issues, but actions require time. This is not a strategy, and our commitments are not fake," Kaneez said.

"We try our best to fulfil our commitments. However, there are complexities that hinder us from presenting the progress," said JU pro-VC (academic) Prof Md Nurul Alam. 

Despite attempts, this correspondent could not get in touch with the VC.