Special committee to be formed to tackle JnU issues

A special committee will be formed to address demands from the Jagannath University (JnU) students. The committee will be led by a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and will include the Vice Chancellor of JnU, two additional secretaries of the education and planning ministries, and a representative of the armed forces. If needed, the committee may include other members with technical expertise. 

A source at the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Education Ministry confirmed the matter. 

According to the source, the government has decided to increase the allotment for JnU in the fiscal year 2025-26. Steps are being taken to build their residential hall and hasten the construction of their second campus in Keraniganj. 

"The work on the Jagannath University campus and the students' residential halls will be done quickly. I myself went and saw that there was no place to stand, no place to sit. A campus cannot run like this. The allocation for the university will be increased," UGC Chairman Prof SMA Fayez told the Daily Samakal on Saturday.

JnU students held demonstrations for four consecutive days last week demanding that 70 per cent of JnU students be granted a housing allowance starting from the 2025–26 fiscal year until adequate accommodation is ensured. 

They also called for the full proposed budget for Jagannath University to be approved without cuts, immediate approval and implementation of the university’s second campus in the next Ecnec meeting, and justice for the police personnel responsible for attacking teachers.