Students Lock Administrative Offices and Banks After Rail Blockade

Following a day-long rail blockade, students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have escalated their protests by locking the campus’s banks and administrative offices. On Tuesday, September 2, after 1:00 PM, the students locked the Pubali Bank branch near the Teacher-Student Centre, the new administrative building, and the treasurer’s office, allowing officials to exit before securing the premises. The actions were taken to protest the administration’s inaction on their six-point demands.

The protesting students stated, “We had warned that if our six-point demands were not met, we would lock down and blackout the university. All classes, exams, and operations are now halted. Every bank and financial institution on campus will remain closed.” They added, “We have received no assurance from the administration regarding our demands. To compel swift action, we are forced to resort to intensified protests.”

The six-point demands are:

1. Immediate withdrawal of the directive ordering students to vacate residential halls by 2:00 PM.
2. Uninterrupted provision of all facilities (water, electricity, and gas) in the halls.
3. Resignation of the proctorial body within 24 hours for failing to ensure student safety and allegedly enabling attacks on students by external miscreants with the support of some teachers.
4. Public apology from the Vice-Chancellor for incidents involving cocktail explosions, vandalism of the library and other structures, attacks on students with local weapons, and harassment of female students by external miscreants.
5. Exemplary punishment for teachers and external miscreants involved in the attacks.
6. Immediate issuance of a single combined degree for students, as demanded in the ongoing month-long movement, rejecting the proposal for three separate degrees.

The unrest stems from an attack on Sunday night by external miscreants on students from the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, who were protesting for a combined degree. Following the clash, the university administration declared an indefinite closure and ordered students to vacate residential halls by 9:00 AM on Monday. Rejecting this decision, students resumed their protests, leading to the rail blockade and subsequent locking of campus facilities.

The campus remains tense as students vow to continue their movement until their demands are met, accusing the administration of failing to address their concerns and ensure their safety.