Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) students have intensified their ongoing protests against the government’s controversial decision to relocate the national Secretariat to the capital’s historic old trade fair ground in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The mounting tension boiled over on Wednesday morning when a group of agitated students marched onto the premises and vandalised several under-construction structures meant for upcoming commercial fairs. University authorities later intervened, bringing the students back to the campus and restoring a semblance of order.
The sprawling ground, which once hosted the prestigious Dhaka International Trade Fair, is currently slated to host two concurrent events: a month-long Asia International Trade Fair and a week-long Youth Fair. Workers had been busy erecting temporary gates, tin fencing, and wooden stall frameworks across the site. However, opposition from the academic community has been simmering for days, with students arguing that the land is vital for their agricultural research and practical learning.
Eyewitnesses and law enforcement officials reported that between seventy and a hundred students entered the grounds under a banner reading, “We want our research field back, not the Secretariat.” Despite the presence of a police unit at the scene, officers were unable to dissuade the determined crowd. The sudden onslaught left substantial material damage in its wake, with organizers claiming that construction equipment and materials were also taken away during the melee.
By midday, the scale of the destruction was evident. Sections of corrugated tin fencing lay flattened, and splintered wooden beams littered the muddy ground as workers hurriedly dismantled the wreckage. Yusuf Sardar, a contractor involved in building stalls for the Youth Fair, expressed profound frustration over the incident. He noted that they had obtained all necessary legal permits from the authorities to carry out the construction, questioning why innocent contractors were targeted over a policy dispute that ought to be resolved with the government.
A representative working on the Asia International Trade Fair, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed similar grievances. According to him, a mob of students targeted their main entrance gate, causing financial losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of taka.
The roots of this confrontation stretch back to Tuesday, when preliminary soil testing began at the site to evaluate its suitability for constructing the new government administrative complex. Incensed by the activity, students boycotted their classes and examinations, staging a massive protest march to the grounds. During that demonstration, they seized soil-testing equipment and two vehicles, forcefully escorting them back to the university campus. To spearhead their campaign, the student body has recently formed a dedicated steering committee to coordinate future actions and press their demands.
Meanwhile, university administration is scrambling to navigate the delicate situation. Professor Tajul Islam, the acting proctor of SAU, acknowledged the gravity of the protests, noting that the administration is actively engaging with the students to address their concerns through proper bureaucratic and institutional channels. While acknowledging the students’ deep-seated attachment to their academic space, the proctor assured that stringent measures would be taken to prevent any further escalation or unlawful acts of vandalism as the standoff continues.
