The Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of the Bangladesh Students Union (BSU) staged a human chain and protest march last Sunday against the JU administration's tree felling during the summer vacation and Eid-ul-Azha holiday, when students and faculty were absent.
The administration began clearing a designated forested area in the morning for the expansion of the New Arts Building and the construction of the Fine Arts Faculty building, disregarding long-standing student protests and concerns about the destruction of the university's natural environment.
Despite the suspension of the buildings’ construction due to long-standing protests, about 200 trees were cut down in the presence of teachers and students using an excavator on that day.
Additionally, another 200 trees were cut down for the extension of the New Arts Building next to the new registrar's building, ignoring stakeholders’ opinions.
University officials fear that over 500 more trees will be felled for this construction, raising concerns about the nearby lake – a vital habitat for migratory birds. Teachers and students share these worries, expressing anxieties that the tree-cutting and construction work will threaten the university's natural environment.
"Tree cutting has increased the temperature in Dhaka," said BSU Vice President Muktarul Islam Arko. "To prevent a similar situation at Jahangirnagar University, it's imperative to preserve nature and develop a master plan before constructing any buildings on the natural environment within the campus."
Arko further criticised the administration's tactics, stating, "However, the university administration takes advantage of every vacation and carries out tree cutting during each campus closure."
Students expressed outrage at the alleged disregard for their concerns. Arif Sohel, a student from the Department of International Relations, condemned the construction, saying, "Building construction without a master plan is totally unacceptable. The university administration never considers the students' opinions. They continue to cut trees indiscriminately for their own interests."
After the human chain, students organised a protest march. The march reached the vice chancellor's residence, where students demanded the urgent development of a master plan to construct the buildings on the natural environment.
Vice Chancellor Professor Md Nurul Alam spoke to the protesting students but refused to comment on the master plan.
On the other hand, the Department of Fine Arts teachers and students are advocating for the construction of their faculty buildings at the designated location. In support of this, they gathered at the Al-Beruni Hall extension on Sunday morning.
Project Director and Associate Professor of the Department of Fine Arts, MM Maizuddin, explained, "We are constructing buildings in the designated areas determined by the university syndicate. We are not doing anything that will harm the environment.”
“We will replant trees in the areas where they were cut and take care of them ourselves. We will form a team with all stakeholders to monitor our progress," he added.
Professor Md Mozammel Hoque, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said, "We have started the construction work in the designated area for now. Later, this will be coordinated with the master plan."
