Teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Sunday demanded the well planned development of the university campus. They urged the university authorities to cancel the decision of constructing multistoried dormitories surrounding the BishwaKabi Rabindranath Tagore hall by felling trees claiming that bio-diversity will be greatly threatened in this regard.
Under the banner of Teacher-Student Unity Platform, many teachers and students placed the demand at a press conference held at the teachers’ lounge of New Arts building around at 3 pm.
At the press meet, they alleged that the university authorities have made a master plan without consulting different stake-holders.
Professor AnwarullahBhuiyan of Philosophy department said, ‘We are not against the development of the university. But, we also demand the conservation of the biodiversity on the campus. So, we think the master plan have no consideration to conserve the eco-system of the university’.
Coordinator of the platform Associate Professor Rayhan Rhyne said, ‘We already informed JU VC regarding our issues. If the authorities don’t take any action regarding this matter, we will be compelled to go for further protest.’
At the press meet, the platform placed seven point demands including reselecting place for new dormitory construction, conserving natural resources area including water bodies and trees, continuing development of priority basis and reviewing the master plan with all stakeholders and experts and for this purpose displaying the project on the website of the university for three months.
Dean of Faculty of Biological Science Prof Dr. Abdul Jabber Hawladar, Prof Dr. Tarek Reja of Bangla department, Prof Shamima Sultana of Bangla department, Prof Jamal Uddin Runu of Environmental Science department, and leaders and activists of leftist parties were present at the press meet among others.