BANGLADESH

Violence-ridden Jagannath University was ordered closed from Thursday until Oct 6 in a decision advancing Durga Puja holidays, the vice-chancellor announced on Wednesday.

The authorities simply brought forward the five-day Puja holidays to halt the four-day-old violent protests by students in the Old Dhaka campus of the university.

Mesbahuddin Ahmed, the vice chancellor, made the announcement at a press briefing after a meeting with department heads.

Earlier, a meeting between the authorities and the students protesting fees hike failed to produce results.

The protests entered the fourth day on Wednesday amid boycott of classes as the students marched every now and then through the campus and demonstrated demanding that authorities repeal a provision that the university should generate its own income to run its activities.

The students began their protests on Sunday, triggering clashes with police.

According to the Article 27 (4) of the Jagannath University Act- 2005, the university will have to fund its operations on its own. Jagannath College, founded in 1884, was amended to a university in 2005.

The protest was halted on Monday for the time being following assurance from the ruling party that the matter would be resolved after discussions with the government.

However, the agitation resumed on Tuesday with the students locking the university vice-chancellor's office and the administrative building, and setting fire to the finance minister's effigy.

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

The students of JnU have long been demanding the rule be repealed with support from the teachers.

The university's proctor, Ashok Kumar Saha, had earlier said that they were in touch with the government to repeal this clause as its implementation would hike tuition fees and there would be little difference between JnU and other private colleges.