The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (Jnucsu) has given the administration a three-day deadline to act following a violent attack on students on the campus.
In a formal memorandum handed to Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Rais Uddin on Thursday, Jnucsu demanded the immediate resignation of the university’s proctor, a judicial inquiry, and criminal cases against outsiders involved in the violence.
The student body warned that the university authorities would be held responsible for any further inaction.
The incident began when students, led by Jnucsu Health and Environment Secretary Md Nur Mohammad entered the university auditorium carrying placards.
They were protesting to demand that the construction of the university’s second campus be handed over to the Army, that temporary accommodation for 1,600 students be set up on seven acres of land, and that the university medical centre be developed.
However, activists from Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and members of the proctorial body allegedly snatched their placards and forced them out of the venue.
The memorandum alleges that the proctor threatened the protesting students, warning that a scene would be created and they would be picked up if they did not withdraw the movement.
Shortly afterwards, JCD activists and outsiders allegedly launched an attack using local weapons and vandalised a handmic. The violence left several female students, Jnucsu representatives, leaders and activists of various student organisations, and general students injured.
According to Jnucsu, those injured in the prolonged attack include Jnucsu Vice President Riazul Islam, General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif, and Executive Member Abdullah Al Faruk, alongside many others.
The student union strongly criticised the university administration for failing to take effective measures while the violence continued for an extended period.
Following the submission of the memorandum, Jnucsu VP Riazul said the students had maintained maximum patience and restraint to preserve peace and order on campus, relying on assurances from the vice-chancellor.
He also highlighted that, in line with a pre-election pledge made to the students, Jnucsu had officially handed over an ambulance to the university administration, presenting it to Treasurer Professor Sabina Sharmin on Thursday.
Demanding justice, Riazul insisted that the university must review CCTV footage to identify the outsiders, non-students, and students involved in the attack.
He demanded that criminal cases be filed against outsiders, called for a specific code of conduct to be formulated to ensure campus security in the future, and added that the administration has been given three days to conduct an impartial investigation to prove its neutrality.
The student union’s nine demands outlined in the memorandum include the immediate resignation of the proctor, alongside identifying and bringing to justice all students and outsiders involved in the attack.
Jnucsu is also demanding that criminal cases be filed against the involved outsiders, and that a permanent security policy be formulated to control and restrict the entry of outsiders and non-students on campus.
They are calling for the handover of CCTV footage to Jnucsu representatives, the arrangement of a judicial investigation, and for the university to bear all medical treatment costs while providing necessary academic assistance to the injured.
The union demands absolute safety and security for all teachers, students, officers, and employees, the removal of officials who failed to visit the injured students in hospital, and the establishment of a campus completely free of non-student politics.
