JnU Housing Project Redesigned: Permanent Hall to Seat 600 Students Instead of Planned 1,700

The Jagannath University (JnU) administration has modified a BDT 20 crore housing project in Keraniganj, switching from a temporary tin-shed housing plan meant for 1,700 students to a 10-story permanent hall that will accommodate only 600 students, triggering widespread dissatisfaction among the student body.

The BDT 20 crore special allocation was sanctioned in the FY 2025–26 budget to address the acute residential crisis faced by JnU students. The initial blueprint entailed constructing rapid temporary housing on seven acres of university-owned land opposite the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. However, despite assurances of swift execution following student demonstrations last year, no physical construction commenced for nearly a year.

On June 29, the JnU Chief Engineer's Office published an e-tender notice inviting bids for the construction of a 10-story student hall occupying just 54 decimals of the seven-acre property, leaving the majority of the land unused.

Student Frustration and Mixed Political Reactions

The reduction in seating capacity and the prolonged timeline have drawn sharp criticism from students and student body representatives.

"We were promised accommodation within three months, but this has now turned into a multi-year project. As a fourth-year student, a temporary hall would have provided immediate relief, but many of us will graduate and leave before this permanent building is ever completed," stated Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, a student from the Department of Islamic Studies.

Ivan Tahsiv, President of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front JnU unit, emphasized that immediate shelter remains the university’s most pressing priority, making rapid temporary accommodation far more urgent than long-term infrastructure.

Echoing similar concerns, Jagannath University Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) Vice President Md. Riazul Islam characterized the unilateral decision as student-hostile and shortsighted. He asserted that the BDT 20 crore budget could have rapidly accommodated nearly 2,000 students, criticizing the administration for keeping the funds idle and opening avenues for procedural irregularities.

Conversely, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) JnU unit Convener Mehdi Hasan Himel supported the administrative shift, describing permanent infrastructure as a more sustainable long-term solution and a responsible use of public funds.

Administrative Explanations and Internal Disagreements

Addressing the design modification, JnU Chief Engineer Md. Helal Uddin Patwary explained to The Daily Campus that the decision was finalized by the university's Works Committee and higher authorities, with the engineering department acting solely as the executing agency. He noted that the 10-story structure aligns with long-term master planning and can eventually be repurposed for faculty or staff housing.

However, conflicting statements emerged within the administration. Syed Ahmed, Director (In-Charge) of the Planning, Development, and Works Department, stated that his office was not informed about transforming the temporary project into a permanent structure, nor did they receive official documentation regarding the tender or the allocation details.

Defending the decision, JnU Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin stated that constructing temporary tin-shed structures that would eventually be demolished represents a waste of public funds. She noted that the committee opted for permanent infrastructure to secure a sustainable asset for the university that could serve flexible operational needs in the future.

Attempts to reach JnU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rois Uddin for official comments via phone and office visits were unsuccessful.