JnU students stage sit-in, confine VC demanding special stipend
Students of the 20th batch under the academic year 2024–25 of Jagannath University (JnU) have been staging a sit-in since Sunday morning, surrounding the administrative building and demanding a special stipend. As a result, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Rezaul Karim and Treasurer Professor Sabina Sharmin have been confined inside the building.
The protest began on Sunday at 10:00 am, with students gathering in front of the administrative building. Around 12:30 pm, the protesters locked the main gate and announced that the demonstration would continue until their demands are met.
At 3:00 pm, Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin spoke with the students, noting that the 20th batch is one of the most prestigious in the university and that students face numerous challenges during their first year in the congested environment of Old Dhaka. She added that, according to university regulations, if students of the 2024–25 academic year are included in the first installment of the stipend, students of the 2019–20 batch would be deprived of it. Under the current system covering five batches, the 15th batch would also not receive the stipend, even though they played a leading role in the movement at Jamuna.
Professor Sharmin also stated, “Nothing will happen based solely on my decision. This is not a decision that can be made in one minute. We will discuss with all members of the committee and try to find a solution as soon as possible.”
Earlier in the morning, students held a protest march demanding hostel allowances. The march started from the Vice-Chancellor’s office, passed through Kalabhavan, Shaheed Sajid Bhaban, and the Faculty of Science, and ended at the administrative building, where the students staged the sit-in. During the protest, students raised slogans criticizing authoritarian and discriminatory decisions and demanding their scholarships as a rightful entitlement.
Meanwhile, the university administration has not issued any formal statement regarding the protest. However, a representative team from the 20th batch is reportedly in discussion with the Treasurer. Rabbi, a student from the Institute of Modern Languages, said, “Our representative team is negotiating with the Treasurer. We will not leave without a written agreement.”