SAU students protest Secretariat plan on research field
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) students blocked the road for the third consecutive day in protest against the decision to construct the Secretariat on the university’s research field (old Trade Fair ground) in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
They staged the program by taking position at the China-Friendship Signal around 12 pm on Thursday.
After blocking the road for about 15 minutes, the students went in front of the nearby office of the executive engineer of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and staged a demonstration.
At that time, they chanted various slogans, including “We will build the country through research, Bangladesh comes first” and “Leave Dhaka at every turn, does Dhaka belong to your father or grandfather?” Later, after the demonstration, the students returned to the campus.
Md Abdul Noor, a student who participated in the demonstration, said, “Constructing the Secretariat here means the eviction of the shrine of former president Ziaur Rahman five years from now. A future government might come and want to take some land from Zia Uddan as well to expand the Secretariat. In that case, Zia Uddan could also face a threat. Therefore, it would be best not to construct the Secretariat here.”
The students claimed that the research field is an important part of the university’s academic and research activities. If the Secretariat is constructed on this field used for agricultural research, the research environment could be damaged. They also expressed fear that the environmental balance of the capital could face risk.
They added that an alternative location should be considered for constructing the Secretariat instead of the field, which is important for agricultural research. They would continue the movement until the protection of the field is ensured.
Earlier, SAU students observed various programs demanding the same. Teachers, students, and individuals of the university have also expressed concern over protecting the research field.
