Police have blocked a long march by students and teachers of Jagannath University towards the residence of the chief advisor on Jamuna River in support of three demands. The long march was dispersed by police using batons, sound grenades, tear gas shells and water cannons.

Police stopped the long march in front of Kakrail Mosque after 12:30 pm on Wednesday. At one point, the participants of the long march started to clash with the police.

The protesters tried to break through the police barricades and move towards the Jamuna. The police then started baton-charge.

At one stage, the police used tear gas shells, sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the protesters. The protesters dispersed and headed towards the Matsya Bhavan intersection.

Students of Jagannath University who participated in the long march say that at least 11 people were injured in the incident. Among them are teachers and students. They are being taken to the hospital.

The students started the long march at around 12:15 pm today from in front of the university's 1971 genocide sculpture square, demanding three points including housing allowance and approval of the proposed full budget.

The program was announced by the 'July Unity' organization, which is a combination of political, social, and cultural organizations of the university, at the university's Kanthaltala on Tuesday. Earlier, a delegation consisting of student and teacher representatives went to the UGC on Tuesday afternoon. But since no announcement was received from the UGC as expected, the students announced the 'Long March to Jamuna' program.


Leaders of Jagannath University Teachers' Association, Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Rights Council, Socialist Chhatra Front, Chhatra Shibir, Democratic Chhatra Sangsad, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and cultural organizations participated in today's long march.

The three demands are:

1. Housing scholarships for 70 percent of Jagannath University students should be implemented from the 2025-26 fiscal year until housing arrangements are ensured.

2. The proposed full budget of Jagannath University for the 2025-26 fiscal year must be approved without any cuts.

3. The work on the second campus of Jagannath University must be approved in the next ECNEC meeting and implemented under the priority project.