BM College students announce shutdown demanding accommodation facilities, resolution of teacher shortage

Students of Brojomohun College (BM College) in Barishal have declared a shutdown of academic activities starting today (25 June), demanding urgent resolution of accommodation issues and resolution of shortage of teachers.

The three other demands raised by the students are- renovation of roads and drainage systems to resolve chronic waterlogging, restoration and development of the college playground for sports activities, renovation of the college auditorium.

However, activities related to form fill-up for the 2023–24 academic year will remain outside the scope of the shutdown.

The protesting students cited the lack of dormitory facilities, severe waterlogging during rainfall, and acute teacher shortages across several departments as major grievances.

"BM College is a historic institution in the south. Yet, we face several issues—there are not enough hostels for students, and during rains, the entire campus is submerged in knee-deep water. On top of that, many departments are critically short of faculty," said Akbar Mubin, one of the protesting students.

"We will continue our movement until our demands are fulfilled," he added.

Another student, Walid Bin Salauddin, said that they had spoken with the principal, who requested three days to address the issues.

"If no logical solution is offered within that time, we will escalate our protests," he added.

Walid further said the shutdown will not affect form fill-up for the 2023–24 academic year, which will proceed as per the previous schedule.

Efforts to contact college Principal Professor Sheikh Md Tajul Islam for comments were unsuccessful.

The students' five-point charter of demands includes construction of residential buildings to accommodate at least 5,000 students, and immediate recruitment of adequate faculty members to address the teacher shortage.