Sunamganj Science and Technology University Students Protest Over Lack of Permanent Campus

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Students at Sunamganj Science and Technology University (SUST) boycotted classes and staged a protest on Monday at their temporary campus in Shantiganj, demanding the urgent establishment of a permanent facility. The demonstration underscored mounting frustration over the lack of proper infrastructure five years after the university was formally authorized by the national parliament in November 2020.

The university, which currently operates out of several rented buildings, including the local Textile Institute, began academic activities on November 3, 2024. With two batches of students already enrolled and a third cohort set to begin admissions next month, the current dispersed campus model has left students struggling with inadequate resources. Protesters argued that the absence of a centralized, purpose-built campus continues to hinder both academic quality and essential administrative functions, leaving them deprived of the standard facilities expected at a public institution.

During the protest, students expressed that the current arrangement, spread across multiple locations—including the Haji Akram Ali Dakhil Madrasa—creates significant logistical challenges. The demonstrators, represented by a group of students including Zakaria Naim, Imtiaz Hasan, and Laboni Das, emphasized that the lack of progress on a permanent site is obstructing their ability to receive a comprehensive education.

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In response to the unrest, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Md. Nizam Uddin, met with the students to address their grievances. He acknowledged that their demands are well-founded and provided an update on the status of the long-delayed project. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the proposed site for the permanent campus has been identified and is currently moving through the pre-ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) vetting process. He assured students that he is in active communication with the relevant ministries to accelerate the project and noted that local members of parliament are also working to fast-track the development.