Clouds of doubt hang over Jagannath University's new campus project

The vice-chancellor fears the army’s involvement could complicate the campus construction

Amidst mounting protests, the government conceded to the demands, yet Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rezaul Karim remains unsure whether the army will be able to effectively carry out the master plan for Jagannath University's new campus.

“Handing over the project to the military makes the process even more complicated. We are considering all alternatives and hope to see a positive outcome soon,” he told bdnews24.com

The vice-chancellor did not specify what alternatives were being considered but added that they were preparing to send a proposal for revising the project plan to the University Grants Commission, or UGC.

The plan for a new campus was first proposed to address the severe overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure of the university's old campus in Old Dhaka. Despite eight years passing, the project has made minimal progress.

Six years into the project, only work on the lake and pond excavation has been completed. The construction of boundary walls and piers is nearing completion, while land development is half done. Construction of the planning and engineering buildings is ongoing.

Standing at the site of the proposed campus in Keraniganj’s Taghoria, one can only see vast open fields. In the six years since the project began, little has been achieved, and there is no clear timeline for when the project will be completed or when the full-fledged university shown in the design will become a reality.

Even 19 years after the university's transformation, students are still forced to live in the messes of the dilapidated alleys of Old Dhaka. Students from different parts of the country continue to face hall shortages and remain stuck in these conditions year after year. In a situation where completing education itself is a struggle due to financial constraints, students are burdened with additional expenses for mess accommodations. They endure years of difficulties just to complete their education.

To put an end to such hardships, students took to the streets in protest. Responding to their demands, the Awami League government announced in 2016 the establishment of a new 200-acre campus for Jagannath University in Taghoria.

However, eight years later, with no new campus in sight, students have once again taken to the streets, demanding that the interim government replace the previous project director and hand over the construction work to the army. The education ministry has given its approval to the proposal.

Yet, as the project proposal undergoes revisions, the uncertainties surrounding its future have become even more evident.

PROJECT DEADLINE EXTENDED FOUR TIMES

Jagannath University's new campus in Teghoria has faced repeated delays, with the construction deadline extended four times since its approval.

The original plan included academic buildings, administrative facilities, student housing, a student-teacher centre, a cafeteria, sports fields, a medical centre, a swimming pool, and a lake, aiming to create a modern campus.

On Oct 3, 2018, the Ministry of Land granted final approval for the land. A few days later, on Oct 9, the project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, or ECNEC. Jagannath University received a cheque for nearly Tk 9 billion in July 2019 to implement the project, which is estimated to cost Tk 19.2 billion.

By Jan 23, 2020, the university had acquired 188.60 acres out of the total 200 acres designated for the campus. However, it has yet to acquire the remaining 11.40 acres.

The completion of the new campus was originally scheduled for mid-2020. However, after three extensions, the project’s deadline was further extended by two years in September. Yet, the land acquisition process is still incomplete. Amid these uncertainties, students have demanded the military take charge of the project.

The university’s Registrar Sheikh Giash Uddin told bdnews24.com, "The latest extension, in September, added another two years. The project cost will be Tk 19.2 billion."

Regarding the progress of the project, current project director Syed Ali Ahmed told bdnews24.com: "We are trying to complete the first phase of the second campus quickly. The work on the lake and ponds is done, and the remaining land acquisition will be completed soon.”

“Currently, construction of the engineering building, boundary wall, and pier is under way. Once these works are completed, permission for the second phase of the project will be granted. The university administration is working to hand over the second phase of the project to the military," he added.

WHY IS PROJECT BEING GIVEN TO ARMY?

The Dhaka Brahmo School began its journey in 1858 on the banks of the Buriganga River. It later became Jagannath Higher Secondary School and College, and eventually, in 2005, it was granted the status of a university.

Academic activities are currently conducted on the university's seven-acre campus in Old Dhaka, which has over 17,500 students, six faculties, 36 departments, and two institutes. However, since its inception, students have raised numerous complaints about the campus.

After independence, students of the then Jagannath College built 11 halls and started residing there. However, after 1985, influential local figures took over these halls, and they have not recovered since. In addition to the housing crisis, the campus lacks many features of a fully-fledged university, such as classrooms, labs, sports fields, and other essential facilities.

The construction of the second campus for Jagannath University began during the Awami League’s tenure, under pressure from student protests.

However, due to continued delays and uncertainty regarding the project’s progress, students called for the remaining work to be transferred to the military.

On Nov 11, students first blocked Abdul Gani Road’s Education Rights Chottor and later encircled the Secretariat.

Later they met ICT Advisor Nahid Islam, along with relevant officials from the education ministry.

On Nov 12, a meeting was held with Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, who agreed to the students' demand to hand over the second campus construction work to the army.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Botany student KM Rakib said: “During the Awami League government's rule, we repeatedly insisted on finishing the construction of the new campus quickly. However, due to political reasons, we were always forced to remain silent. Those responsible for delaying the campus work or benefiting from the delay were associated with the Awami League.”

"Students were frustrated by numerous challenges. Therefore, after the July uprising and the expulsion of the Chhatra League, we could no longer tolerate the delay in completing the new campus and were forced to return to the streets," he added.

According to Rakib, “We are placing our trust in the military to implement the new campus project. We do not trust anyone else. If the military chooses not to take on the campus work at this stage, we will reach out again to the Ministry of Education and the education advisor."

He added, "If the government wants, the military will take on the work. Through this, the government may not gain much financially, but it will receive quality work."

WHERE’S COMPLICATION?

VC Prof Karim highlighted the 'complications' in transferring the new campus project to the army.

He told bdnews24.com on Saturday night, “There are some complications in transferring the new campus work to the military. The military generally carries out work through Direct Purchase Management (DPM). Therefore, the DPP [Development Project Proposal] needs to be amended. We are preparing to send the proposal for DPP modification to the UGC for approval from the Ministry of Education."

However, even with the DPP amendment, there is uncertainty over whether the army will take on the project. The Corps of Engineers of the army typically handles infrastructure development.

According to several current and former military officials, the army usually avoids taking on a project midway, as it could harm the reputation of the force. However, if the government makes a formal decision, the situation may be viewed differently.

In response to a question, VC Rezaul said: "We have unofficially heard about this, but we are moving forward with the DPP amendment through official channels. We have received multiple CVs [Curriculum Vitae] from former military officers."

WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

With the delay in the second campus project, the university administration is taking steps to solve issues temporarily.

The VC told bdnews24.com that the university is exploring options such as renting houses to resolve the accommodation crisis and finding donors for building construction.

"We are working on temporary housing solutions. Based on advice from the ministry, we are exploring whether we can rent residential buildings to accommodate students. We have searched extensively, but we have not found completely vacant buildings," he said.

Prof Karim added, "We also have another plan. There is about 7 acres of land next to the old prison, where we can construct buildings. For this, we would need to find a donor organisation. Currently, we are moving forward with these two plans."

Students raised corruption allegations against the new campus project director Ali, and and called for his removal.

In response to a question on this matter, the VC said: "We have recommended appointing a new project director. Once that is done, he will automatically be relieved of his duties."

‘BUSES PARK INSIDE, BUS STATION OUTSIDE’

At the current 7.5-acre campus, Jagannath University buses are parked inside the campus, while buses from different companies operating in Dhaka are stationed just outside the main gate.

Rakib, one of the organisers of the movement to transfer the new campus project to the military, said: "There is no space to sit inside the campus. Our buses are parked inside, and outside is entirely a bus stand."

For a long time, buses from Ajmeri Glory, Victorian Classic, Bihanga, and Savar Paribahan have been using the university's first gate as an “informal bus stand”. After Aug 5, general students of the university negotiated with bus owners and moved the buses from the first gate to Shankhari Bazar, but the Bahadur Shah Paribahan buses still remain at the second gate.

On Oct 12, the university administration held a meeting with the Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners Association. The meeting concluded with the decision that no bus should pick up passengers in the area between the main gate and the Kala Bhaban gate. Also, no transport would be allowed to travel south from the TSC west corner towards Sadarghat.

It was also decided that Bahadur Shah Paribahan, located at the Bangla Bazar gate of the university, would not be allowed to stay at the south gate. When buses take turns near Bahadur Shah Park, no vehicle should stop its wheels.

The university Proctor Prof Tajammul Hossain told bdnews24.com, "For the first couple of weeks, they follow these rules, but after that, continuity is lost."

"This has been going on for a long time. We've had multiple meetings with them, but every time, they follow the rules for a couple of weeks, then the same incidents repeat. There is no permanent solution to this," he added.

‘ENDLESS CRISIS’

Jagannath University’s current campus is facing numerous issues, including accommodation shortages, a lack of classrooms, labs, and playgrounds.

Ehsanul Kabir Fahim, a student from the 2020-21 academic session of the Department of Public Administration, told bdnews24.com: “The classroom shortage has reached a critical point. Before one class ends, students from another batch are already waiting to start their class. We have to wait around to get a spot in the classroom.”

“There is also a shortage of labs. Because of this, we have to run to Dhaka University for our lab work. And there is not even a single playground,” he added.

Md. Shahin Mia, a history student from the 2020-21 batch, said: "What is called a library here is actually a book storage room, not a proper library."

He added, "Though there is a library on campus, it lacks technological facilities. If you want to do a reference search, there is no way to do so."

Md Rashidul Islam, a mass communication and journalism student from the 2018-19 batch, said: "There is a canteen on campus, but the food quality is poor. The line extends outside the canteen, and the food portions are very small. No subsidy is being provided for the canteen either."

STRUGGLING TO MANAGAE EXPENSES

Many students from different parts of the country, unable to secure accommodation in university halls, are forced to live in private hostels or messes. The rent, food expenses, and travel costs to the university make it challenging for many to manage their finances. As a result, many rely on tuition to cover their expenses. However, finding tutoring jobs in Old Dhaka can be difficult, and navigating the narrow, congested lanes consumes a lot of their time.

Mehdi Hasan, a public administration student from the 2019-20 batch, said: “Most students come from outside Dhaka and from middle- or lower-middle-class families. If there were halls, we could save on rent, and food expenses would also be less."

He added, “But there is always some problem—today we have to buy groceries, tomorrow we have to pay rent. Finding tutions in Old Dhaka is tough, and even when tutoring is available, getting there through traffic takes at least two to three hours, and the travel expenses add up.”

Fatema Ali, a mass communication and journalism student from the 2021-22 batch, said: "While male students do not have halls, it is easier for them to find accommodation compared to female students. The only hall available for over seven thousand female students can accommodate just over a thousand. As a result, it becomes very difficult for the rest to find a place to stay."

“The seat allocation for dormitories is based on distance from their home and academic performance. However, most of the current residents got their seats through the influence of student organisations from the previous government. Some seats have even been shared by two students due to political connections.”