Staff Correspondent:

Police fired tear gas, lobbed sound grenades and used water cannons to disperse a long march by Jagannath University (JnU) students and teachers heading towards the chief adviser’s residence in Jamuna on Wednesday (May 14), demanding approval of the university’s proposed full budget, housing allowance, and the launch of its second campus.

A JnU student named Abir Hossain claimed that 25 people were injured in the incident.

They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where all 25 received treatment at the emergency department.

Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost, said that several of the injured were brought to the emergency department and are currently undergoing treatment.

The clash broke out around 12:30pm near the Kakrail Mosque area, where law enforcers obstructed the procession. Protesters attempted to break through the police barricade, leading to a scuffle.

As tensions escalated, police began baton-charging, firing tear gas, water cannons and deploying sound grenades, which eventually forced the marchers to retreat towards the Matsya Bhaban intersection.

“Many of our fellow students and some teachers were injured in the police action. Several of them have been taken to the hospital,” said a JnU student taking part in the march.

Their three-point demand includes implementing housing allowance for 70% of JnU students starting from the 2025–26 fiscal year, approving the proposed full budget for the same period without any cuts, and initiating the university’s second campus project as a priority in the next ECNEC meeting.

The long march began around 11:45am from the ‘Genocide in 1971′ sculpture premises on the university campus. Students began gathering at the main gate at 10am.

The protest was organised by “July Oikko”, a platform comprising various political, social, and cultural student organisations active on campus.

Leaders and activists from JnU Teachers’ Association, Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Chhatra Shibir, Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, Baisammobirodhi Chhatra Andolon, and different cultural groups joined the march.

The students had previously submitted their demands to the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday (May 13), but said they were not satisfied with the response. As a result, the long march was declared later that day.