JnU protest ends following UGC assurances: Wave of protests challenges Yunus govt
Abu Jakir :
The interim government, headed by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, is grappling with escalating protests and widespread social unrest that have intensified over recent weeks.
Since its formation in August last year, the administration has faced increasing pressure from students, political groups, and civil society, culminating in a political climate that now teeters on the brink of instability.
In recent days, multiple protest movements have erupted across Dhaka, reflecting broad-based discontent. At the Kakrail intersection, hundreds of students gathered in protest demanding immediate reforms and justice.
Simultaneously, more than a thousand activists participated in the Moitree Jatra at Manik Mia Avenue- a symbolic march advocating for gender equity and justice for women.
Adding to the growing pressure, students affiliated with the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal laid siege to the Shahbagh Police Station, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Dhaka University student and Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Alam Shammo.
Protesters accused the authorities of delaying justice and called for a transparent and expedited investigation.
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam, responding to the intensifying unrest, acknowledged the legitimacy of some of the grievances. However, he issued a stern warning against any attempt to destabilise the nation.
“This movement stems from genuine frustration, but any attempt to create national disorder under the guise of protest will be met with firm action,” he said. “The politics of a march to the Jamuna will no longer be tolerated.”
In a significant development, the government was compelled to accept the four-point demand of Jagannath University (JnU) students following days of demonstrations, including a mass hunger strike. The decision marked a rare instance of concession by the Yunus-led administration amid mounting national scrutiny.
The demands included introduction of a housing allowance for 70% of students starting from the 2025-26 fiscal year, pending the provision of residential facilities, unconditional approval of the university’s FY26 budget, approval of the proposed second campus project at the upcoming ECNEC meeting, recognising it as a national priority and disciplinary action against police personnel involved in recent attacks on students and faculty.
By Thursday afternoon, an estimated 5,000 current and former students had gathered in support of the movement.
The hunger strike began at 3:30 PM and ended later that evening after University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor SMA Faiz, alongside the JnU Vice-Chancellor, symbolically offered water to protesting students-marking an end to the fast.
“This victory belongs to every student who dared to speak out,” said Mahtab Limon, General Secretary of the Jagannath University Journalists’ Association, on behalf of the JnU Oikko platform.
Elsewhere, the Moitree Jatra attracted strong public participation. The march commenced with a cultural programme and concluded with a vibrant procession through Khamarbari. Participants held placards bearing slogans such as “No means no,” “Resist marital rape,” and “It’s never about clothes or belief.”
“We came here to stand with women and demand a society free from gender-based violence,” said Rehnuma Ahmed, a former Jahangirnagar University lecturer. NGO worker Nazifa Raidah added, “This is about reclaiming our rights, dignity, and equality.”
Meanwhile, the sit-in outside Shahbagh Police Station continued, led by student activists under the banner of Bangladesher Sadharon Chhatrasamaj.
Their demand for immediate action in the Shammo murder case was echoed across university campuses, reflecting a broader sentiment of mistrust in institutional accountability.
As unrest spreads across the capital, the interim administration now faces its most serious test. Whether it can restore public confidence through meaningful dialogue and reform-or risk further erosion of its authority-remains to be seen.