Students at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University have padlocked the gate of the Film and Media Studies department, confining teachers inside.
Since Thursday morning (October 1), students have locked the gate and staged a sit-in in front of the department to press two demands: renaming it “Communication, Media and Film” and moving it from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Social Sciences. They chanted slogans including “Our demands must be met”, “Communication must be added to media studies”, “The curriculum is global, why is the faculty local?” and “Move the department to the social sciences faculty”.
On Wednesday, students boycotted academic activities and staged a sit-in in front of the department over the same demands, then announced a boycott of classes and exams and submitted a memorandum to the head of department.
Protesting student Injamul Haque Ovi said they had been campaigning for about 14 months. Although communication is taught in the curriculum, the absence of the word “communication” in the department’s name causes problems in the job market, and because it sits under the Faculty of Arts, students cannot apply for some jobs reserved for social sciences graduates, he said. They have submitted the necessary data and documents to the administration, their demand is not for any extra privilege but to align academic identity with job opportunities, and they hope the next syndicate meeting will settle the matter, he said.
Another protester, Mohsin Haque Shah, said the administration had formed an inquiry committee to examine the demands, which reported in their favour, but uncertainty over implementation forced them to protest.
Proctor Professor Dr Mahabubur Rahman Jony told the protesters the matter would be presented at the next syndicate meeting and implemented if found reasonable through the university’s procedures, with all syndicate members giving their decision on October 3. Nothing can be said before then, he said.
According to university sources, the process began in September 2025, when students submitted memoranda to the vice-chancellor, department chairman and dean. The department’s 129th academic committee meeting unanimously recommended the changes, and on November 13, 2025, the syndicate formed a five-member committee to review the matter, which recommended both the new name and the move to the social sciences faculty. On April 29 the academic council decided to add “Communication” to the department’s name and send it to the next syndicate meeting for approval.
Head of department Professor Dr Zillur Rahman Paul said the 129th departmental academic committee and the expert committee formed with the syndicate’s approval had unanimously found the demands reasonable after detailed discussion, and the matter had been recommended for the academic council’s final approval.
“I have no scope to give a decision personally. I cannot comment beyond the decision of the syndicate’s 14 members. But the demands of most students will be given importance. The administration is determined to take any decision in the wider interest,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mosharraf Hossain.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report