BANGLADESH

After two days of violent street demonstrations, students of Jagannath University have paused their agitation over a funding row following assurance from the ruling party.

The decision to halt the protest came on Monday afternoon from a meeting between the students, teachers and several student organisations.

Ruling Awami League's student front Chhatra League president Badiuzzaman Sohagh, after the meeting, told reporters that Awami League presidium member Obaidul Kader will sit with the stakeholders to resolve the matter at the Imperial Hotel at Gulistan on Tuesday.

The students had taken to the streets for a second day protesting the provision that the public university should generate its own income to operate.

Following Sunday's protest, some 1500 students had blocked the city's Raisa Bazar-Naya Bazar street at 8:45am on Monday amid police cordon, creating a severe traffic snarl-up on the Dhoalikhal connecting road and Dhaka-Dohar road.

The general secretary of the university's Chhatra Union unit Nazmul Hasan told reporters, "We've pushed back the protest for now. But we'll announce instant programmes if nothing positive comes out from tomorrow's talks."

At a press briefing following the meeting, JnU vice-chancellor Prof Mesbahuddin said, "We're trying with honesty and good sense. I hope the law will be reformed at the earliest."

According to the Article 27 (4) of the Jagannath University Act- 2005, the university authority will have to fund its operations themselves. The Jagannath College, founded in 1884, was turned into a university in 2005.

The students say the university raise their semester fees from Tk 3,500 to Tk 20,000 to raise revenue. Their other demands include recovery of university dormitories, setting up a library, and increased transport facilities.

Earlier in the day, baton-wielding police had clubbed and dispersed the students around 10am and several people including police constable Nazrul Islam and students were injured during brief clashes.

Police also detained at least 24 students during the protests on Monday before the situation came under control, Kotwali Police Station chief Salahuddin told bdnews24.com.

The traffic became normal around 10:30am after the protesters left the street. They took position inside the university campus.

Chhatra League activists also paraded down the street calling for repeal of the law while its president Shohag sat with the students on the campus.

The students of JnU have long been demanding the rule be repealed amid support from the teachers.

University's proctor Ashok Kumar Saha on Sunday told bdnews24.com: "We are holding talks with the government to repeal this clause as its implementation would hike tuition fees and there will be very little difference between Jagannath University and other private initiatives."

The angry students began their protests at 11am on Sunday in front of the National Press Club after they came to know about the funding rule from a newspaper report.

Police charged batons to disperse them and the students, in retaliation, smashed several vehicles.