Over the years, 12 student halls of Jagannath University (JnU) have been occupied. For a long time, a large part of the general students do not know where these student halls are. However, this time the general students of the university called for a movement to reclaim their halls.
The students along with the teachers were supposed to go on a strike on August 13. But later, in a video message, the then one of the student coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement Noor Nabi, announced the suspension of the movement.
He claimed that according to his reliable sources, a third party was then trying to take advantage of their movement. By keeping August 15 in front, miscreants could use it as a shield to spoil their hall movement and heat up the current situation in the country.
There are many Hindu community settlements and business establishments around the university campus, which were feared to be vandalized, looted and set on fire by miscreants. They planned to create riots in the campus around the issue of hall movement.
The general students demanded that no party of the dictatorial group should be allowed to create chaos in the center of the rescue movement.
The situation is going back to normal now compared to then. In such a situation, many people are questioning whether there is any desire among the students to save the hall or whether the hall movement has been halted.
The JnU Treasurer Professor Dr. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury said in this regard, “ The hall movement was not halted at all. We have contacted the DC office. On their advice, we have made a committee consisting of students and teachers. They told us to collect all the documents related to our halls.”
He added that if some halls were illegally occupied, they could easily free them by showing the documents.
“Some of the halls which have been re-papered by the occupiers and later sold them to others, on such issues we will take possession of the halls with the help of the concerned ministry after examining our papers”, he said while he was asked about the possession of re-papered halls.
About the current situation Abdullah Al Mampi, a JnU student, said, “We want to reclaim our halls with the help of our university administration. We are taking legal steps to reclaim them. We will work hand in hand.”
As per information, Jagannath University has a total of 12 halls. These halls located in different parts of Old Dhaka have been occupied by former ruling Awami League leaders for business and political work.
Haji Salim, the Awami League leader and former Member of Parliament of Old Dhaka, has occupied the largest number of halls. Haji Salim occupied a hall of Jagannath University and built a multi-storied building called Gulshan Ara City. In addition, he transformed several halls into various business establishments. However, last Sunday, August 19, the Dhaka District Commissioner handed over the Dhupkhola field of Old Dhaka to the JnU administration.
