Teachers and students of Jagannath University (JnU) have declared that they will not vacate the Kakrail intersection following a violent police crackdown during a protest march on Wednesday, May 14. The protest, which was aimed at pressing a set of three-point demands, took a turbulent turn when law enforcement agencies intervened with force near the Chief Adviser’s residence.

According to eyewitnesses and participants, the JnU students commenced a long march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence from the university campus around 11:00 AM. The procession, organized peacefully to press for the fulfillment of their demands, was met with resistance as it approached the Kakrail area. Police reportedly resorted to baton charges, fired tear gas canisters, and detonated sound grenades in an effort to disperse the demonstrators.

The sudden eruption of violence resulted in injuries to more than a hundred individuals, including students, teachers, and journalists who were covering the event. In response to the incident, both students and faculty members staged a sit-in protest at the Kakrail Mosque crossing around 3:30 PM, declaring their intention to continue the protest until justice is served.

During the sit-in, protestors demanded immediate accountability for what they described as an unprovoked and brutal assault on unarmed demonstrators. They specifically called for legal action against the police officers involved in the attack. Many of the protestors expressed deep frustration and shock over what they termed an attack on academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest.

Professor Dr. Rois Uddin, General Secretary of the JnU Teachers’ Association, who was also injured during the police action, condemned the incident in strong terms. He stated that the entire university community is aggrieved by the government's actions, emphasizing that the attack was not just on individuals but on the principles of democratic expression.

“The manner in which students and teachers were attacked is unacceptable. Over a hundred of our students have been injured. We want justice. Those responsible in the police must be held accountable,” Dr. Rois Uddin said while addressing the sit-in gathering.

By mid-afternoon, several senior officials and faculty members from Jagannath University had joined the protest at Kakrail, standing in solidarity with the injured and the demonstrating students. Among those present were Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin, and the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, Professor Manzur Morshed. Their presence further underscored the gravity of the incident and the widespread discontent it had triggered within the university.

The protestors reiterated their core demands during the sit-in, which were also the basis for the earlier long march. Though the specifics of the demands were not disclosed during the protest, organizers stressed that they were focused on issues of administrative justice, student welfare, and institutional autonomy.

As the situation developed, there was a heavy deployment of police in the Kakrail area. Despite the presence of law enforcement, the sit-in remained peaceful following the earlier confrontation. Protestors, some of whom carried banners and placards, sat along the intersection, chanting slogans and calling for justice throughout the evening.

Journalists covering the incident also reported being caught in the crossfire, with several sustaining minor injuries due to tear gas and crowd dispersal measures. Media organizations have since condemned the actions of the police, calling for assurances regarding the safety of press members during public demonstrations.

The events of the day have drawn widespread attention on social media, where videos of the police action and images of the injured rapidly circulated. Hashtags calling for justice and police accountability trended throughout the day, amplifying public scrutiny of the government’s handling of the student demonstration.

By the end of the day, no official statement had been issued by law enforcement authorities regarding the use of force on the students and faculty members. Meanwhile, protestors vowed to continue their sit-in through the night and beyond, until their demands are addressed and justice is ensured for those injured in the clash.

As tension remains high in the area, observers anticipate further mobilizations from both students and civic groups in the coming days. The university authorities have urged the government to initiate an impartial investigation into the incident to restore calm and trust among the academic community.