BANGLADESH

A Dhaka Court has granted bail to all the 17 students of Jagannath University, arrested on Friday from a rally in the city protesting against a government provision that the university fund itself.

Chief metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Mostafa Shahriar passed the order on Saturday when officer in charge of the Shahbagh Police Station Rezaul Islam produced them in the court.

Police had arrested 29 people on Friday under Section 78 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance for creating ruckus on the road and foiled their rally at Shahbagh. However, 12 passers-were released in the night.

General registration officer of the court Sheikh Farid told that each of accused would have been fined Tk 200 and set free if they had admitted their guilt. "As they didn't admit their guilt, they will have to fight the case."

The university authority in a press statement on Saturday requested all its students and their guardians to uphold the image of the university and restore congenial academic atmosphere on the campus.

The JnU authorities on Wednesday advanced Durga Puja vacations in the face of rowdy student protests.

On Thursday, the students declared new protest programmes at a press briefing. Their programmes include human chain in front of National Press Club on Oct 2 and a solidarity rally at Shaheed Minar on Oct 8.

Also, the students would continue to boycott classes and examinations after the university reopens on Oct 8.

Angry students began their protests at 11am on last Sunday in front of National Press Club after they came to know of the funding provision from a newspaper report.

Police charged batons to disperse them, and the students in retaliation smashed several vehicles. With support from the teachers, the students have long been demanding that the provision be scrapped.

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

The protests were paused on Monday following assurance from the ruling Awami League that the matter would be resolved after discussions with the government.

Students say the university increased their semester fees from Tk 3,500 to Tk 20,000 to raise revenue.

Their other demands include recovery of university dormitories, setting up of a library and better transport facilities.