Students lock Jagannath VC office over housing scholarships, JnUCSU polls roadmap

Protesters stage a “Break the Silence” protest, rejecting the vice-chancellor’s assurances

Agitating students of Jagannath University have locked the office of Vice-Chancellor Md Rezaul Karim, leaving him inside, after rejecting his assurances on holding the long-stalled Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) elections.

Around 3:40pm on Sunday, protesters padlocked the gate of the VC building while shouting slogans outside.

Earlier, Rezaul had warned that if he faced any obstacles in moving forward with JnUCSU, he would “make everything public”.

The VC told students at 1:30pm that the syndicate would meet on Tuesday to finalise the JnUCSU regulations. Once passed, the rules would be sent to the University Grants Commission, then to the education and law ministries before receiving presidential approval.

“After the law is enacted, JnUCSU elections will be held within 90 days,” he said, stressing that he had faced no resistance so far.

But students dismissed the pledge as “inadequate”. They had staged a two-hour sit-in at the Shaheed Minar in the morning before moving to the administrative building at noon.

They carried out a “Break the Silence” protest in front of the VC’s office, reiterating two key demands -- supplementary housing scholarships and a clear announcement of the JnUCSU policy and election roadmap.

By late afternoon, the students collectively decided to lock the VC office, signalling a hardening of their stance.