BAU protest leads to memorandum submission to Chief Adviser

BAU Correspondent:

Students from the Faculty of Agriculture at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser, outlining six demands and calling for an end to perceived discrimination against agriculturists.

The day began with a protest rally held on campus around 10:15 AM. Following the rally, the students staged a blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line near Jabbar Mor, disrupting train services. The Dewanganj-bound Teesta Express was stranded at Fatemanagar, while the Dhaka-bound Haor Express was halted at Mymensingh station.

Train operations resumed around 12:30 PM after intervention from BAU Proctor Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Alim and Mymensingh Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Ariful Islam Prince, who persuaded the students to withdraw the blockade.

Later, at 2:15 PM, the students submitted their memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor of BAU, and subsequently, at 4:00 PM, through the Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner, to the Chief Adviser.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, agriculture student Ifran Yusuf Shihab stated, “We are proud of our academic achievements. Admission into agriculture at a public university is highly competitive. In 2023–24, about 24 applicants competed for each seat. It is unfair for diploma holders to question the qualifications of graduates in this sector.”

UNO Md. Ariful Islam Prince acknowledged the students’ concerns, saying, “Your demands are reasonable and the administration is with you. However, public protests must be conducted in ways that do not create difficulties for ordinary citizens, especially those from vulnerable communities.”

Proctor Dr. Md. Abdul Alim also lent his support, adding, “There should be no comparison between university graduates and diploma holders. I urge the Deputy Commissioner to ensure this message is properly communicated to the relevant authorities so that instability can be avoided.”