DU, JU, other unis shut down; students asked to vacate halls
The UGC wrote to the vice-chancellors yesterday night to close all the universities of the country till further orders and instruct the students to vacate the halls of residence amid the ongoing agitation demanding quota reform
Many universities in the country, including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Khulna University, Islamic University, have decided to shut down classes and asked students to vacate halls amid ongoing quota reform protests.
Dhaka University has decided to halt all classes until further notice and asked students to vacate the residential halls within 6pm today fearing for their security amid ongoing quota reform protests.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the university's highest executive forum Syndicate today (17 July), confirmed Syndicate member Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The meeting took place in the office of Vice-Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal.
It was also decided that students will be reallocated hall rooms according to a merit based list.
"Anyone who is not a student at the university are being refrained from entering the campus," reads a notice published by the university today afternoon.
The university also urged the government to resolve the quota situation logically and also declared to take responsibility of treatment of all teachers and students who were injured during quota reform protests.
The decision comes following a University Grants Commission (UGC) directive to shut down all universities across the country along with all residential halls.
According to the Dhaka University Order of 1973, the syndicate is responsible for regulating and determining, subject to the powers conferred by this Order on the vice-chancellor, all matters concerning the university in accordance with this order, the statutes and the university ordinances.
However, students have refused to leave the halls at places including DU.
"We will consider leaving the hall if all teachers, officials, employees including the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University leave their residential buildings for the sake of campus security," said Sarjis Alam, one of the frontliners of the quota reform protests in DU.
In a Facebook post he said, "Students of Amar Ekushey Hall have decided not to leave the residential hall."
JU asks students to vacate halls by 4pm
Jahangirnagar University administration has asked the students to leave the halls by 4pm today (17 July), following the directive from the UGC.
The decision was made during an emergency syndicate meeting this morning, reads an office circular.
Earlier at 10am this morning, the syndicate meeting started in the university's registrar building.
Concerned that the syndicate meeting might announce a directive for students to vacate the dormitories, protesting students gathered in front of the registrar building during the meeting.
They said there is no assurance that students will be able to return home safely if such a directive is issued.
RU closed until further notice, students asked to leave halls by noon
The authorities of Rajshahi University (RU) have announced the closure of the institution for an indefinite period after midnight, following the University Grants Commission's (UGC) declaration that all public and private universities across the country will remain shut.
The UGC made the announcement in a statement issued yesterday (16 July) amid violent clashes between quota protesters and police, BCL and Jubo League.
Besides, students residing in the 17 residential halls of RU have been asked to vacate by 12pm today (17 July).
The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The university authorities took the decisions at an emergency syndicate meeting held at around 11:30pm, lasting approximately one and a half hours.
Later, the announcement was made around 1am after midnight through a press release signed by Professor Pranab Kumar Pandey, administrator of the RU public relations office.
The notice stated that, following government directives, all educational activities at the university are suspended until further notice to ensure the safety of the students. At the same time, students have been instructed to vacate the dormitories.
Meanwhile, the Rajshahi Metropolitan Mess Owners' Association instructed students staying in all hostels, dormitories, and flats in the city to vacate their premises by 12pm today.
This directive was issued in a circular signed by the association's President, Enayetur Rahman, General Secretary ASM Omar Sharif, and Joint General Secretary Qaiser Ahmed.
Students leave Chittagong University dorms
Students of Chittagong University (CU) began vacating their dormitories in the morning anticipating a university closure following UGC's directive.
Later in the day, Chittagong University authorities announced that the university remain shut from today until further notice. Students have been asked to leave halls within 6pm for female dormitories and 9pm for male dormitories.
The decision was taken during an emergency Syndicate meeting that was held virtually from 10am to 12pm today, confirmed Syndicate member of the university Dr Naim Hasan Chowdhury Aurangzeb.
According to the decision of the meeting, all cottages, messes within one kilometer of the university campus have also been urged to be closed.
It was announced that the university route shuttle train will operate from 2:30pm till night for the transportation of students. After that, the shuttle train will also be closed indefinitely.
Proctor Prof Wahidul Alam said, the hall will be sealed after students leave.
Speaking to the students who are leaving, it was found that fear and anxiety are prevalent regarding the death of a student in the anti-quota movement.
They were leaving the dorms thinking that the university would decide based on the UGC's directive.
Ashikur Rahman, a student from the 2020-21 academic year of the CSE department, said, "There have been no classes in July. The university is in a standstill. Meanwhile, a student was killed by the police in the anti-quota movement. We are all in a state of concern, so we are going home."
Khulna University closure after emergency meeting
Khulna University authorities have decided to shut down all types of educational activities for an indefinite period in an emergency syndicate meeting held this morning (17 July). They've also asked the students to vacate halls immediately.
After concluding the meeting at 12:00pm, Registrar (Acting) of the university Golam Kuddus confirmed the matter, saying, "The university will remain closed until further notice. The male students have been asked to vacate the halls within 5:00pm today, while the female students will have to do so within 10:00am tomorrow."
Earlier this morning, Khulna University authorities called for an emergency syndicate meeting to take a decision about University Grants Commission's (UGC) directive to shut down universities across the country for an indefinite period.
The meeting started at 11:00am today. At the same time, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) authorities also called for a coordination meeting to decide whether to close the university or not.
Manoj Kumar Majumder, Assistant Director of KUET's Public Relations and Information department, had said, "The meeting of the coordination committee has started at 11:00 AM. The committee will give detailed information about what to do."
According to official sources, Khulna University and KUET are about to follow UGC's directive and announce closure until further notice.
However, Quota Reform Protesters of these two universities do not want to leave their campuses.
Meanwhile, National University students have launched a demonstration by blocking Khulna-Jessore highway at the district's Daulatpur area since this morning. Also, students of Khulna University and KUET are preparing for a blockade at the Zero Point intersection of the town.
UGC wrote to the vice-chancellors yesterday night to close all the universities of the country till further orders and instruct the students to vacate the halls of residence amid the ongoing agitation demanding quota reform.
At the same time, all affiliated medical, textile, engineering and other colleges will also remain closed.
Islamic University halts educational activities, asks students to vacate halls
Islamic University authorities in Kushtia have taken a decision to pause all types of educational activities for the time being. They have also instructed the students to leave the campus immediately.
However, administrative activities will continue during this period.
The decision was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting held at the Vice-Chancellor's (VC) residence at 11am today.
Registrar (Acting) of the university HM Ali Hasan confirmed the matter to The Business Standard, saying, "The male students have been asked to vacate halls within 1pm today, while the female students will have to leave the halls within 10am tomorrow. The university administration will arrange bus services for the students to Kushtia and Jhenidah from campus."
What led to the decision
The decision came amid violent clashes between quota protesters and police, BCL and Jubo League.
At least six people were killed and dozens were injured yesterday as clashes took place during nationwide protests demanding the abolition of quota in government jobs.
The protest programme gained momentum as thousands of students from private universities and colleges have also joined the movement, which had previously been dominated by public university students.
The widespread demonstrations began this morning following violent attacks on quota protesters at public universities across the country on Monday (15 July). Over 300 students were injured in the attacks on quota protesters allegedly by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on university campuses, according to the movement coordinates, doctors, and university officials.
