JUCSU revived but old problems linger
After a 33-year hiatus, the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) was revived, raising hopes among students that long-standing problems would finally be addressed and their rights restored.
However, as the elected body enters the final month of its tenure, many of those expectations remain unmet, while several of its key election pledges are yet to be fulfilled.
The long-awaited restoration of JUCSU generated considerable enthusiasm among students, with the newly elected representatives pledging to protect students’ rights, improve the academic environment and help build a modern, research-oriented university.
Yet, despite some initiatives, several long-standing problems continue to affect students’ daily lives, particularly in areas related to infrastructure, academic facilities and welfare services.
Key concerns, including classroom shortages, session jams, poor-quality dining and canteen facilities, and inadequate medical services, remain largely unresolved, despite being among JUCSU’s major commitments.
One of the most visible problems is the university’s analogue administrative system. Students are still required to move from one building to another carrying paperwork to pay examination and other fees.
Replacing this cumbersome process with a fully automated and digital system was one of JUCSU’s major pledges and had raised considerable expectations among students. However, the promised digital transformation is yet to be fully implemented.
Food quality in residential hall dining facilities is another long-standing concern. Students have repeatedly complained that meals often fail to meet acceptable standards in terms of both quality and nutrition.
Following the revival of JUCSU, students expected significant improvements in dining services.
However, they say no substantial change has yet been visible.
Healthcare services have also fallen short of expectations. JUCSU pledged to transform the university’s medical centre into a mini-hospital with improved facilities. But apart from a modest increase in medicine supplies and ambulance services, students say little significant progress has been made.
Jahangirnagar University is widely recognised for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. During the JUCSU election, all major panels pledged to take effective measures to protect the campus’s ecological balance and natural environment, including the implementation of an ecological and infrastructure master plan.
However, the proposed plans have yet to materialise.
“A comprehensive ecological master plan was proposed to protect the university’s ecological and natural environment,” JUCSU Environment Secretary Safayet Mir told The New Nation.
JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam said the organisation had been working sincerely in the interests of students since taking office.
“JUCSU has been working with the utmost sincerity in the interests of students from the very beginning,” he said.
“We have taken initiatives based on what we had pledged. Many of these have been fulfilled, while many others are under process,” he added.
JUCSU Vice-President Abdur Rashid Jitu acknowledged to The New Nation that the organisation had not been completely successful in implementing all of its pledges.
“We have collectively tried to implement what we had pledged, though we had to work through administrative and power changes,” he said.
Jitu said JUCSU had already implemented several small but important initiatives, while a number of major projects remained under way.
“Many other major projects are in process, such as introducing automation, implementing a master plan, reforming roads and footpaths, and academic reform,” he said.
He added that students would eventually benefit from these initiatives, although JUCSU might not remain in office until all of them are completed.
As the first elected JUCSU in more than three decades approaches the end of its tenure, the gap between its promises and visible achievements is likely to remain a key concern for students. While the union says several initiatives have been completed or are underway, many of the problems that prompted calls for its revival remain part of students’ everyday experience.
