Landowners Relieved but Students Demand Permanent Campus
The district administration of Chandpur has canceled the controversial land acquisition for Chandpur Science and Technology University (CSTU), a decision that has brought relief to affected landowners. However, students have voiced concerns, calling for expedited steps to establish a permanent campus. Many landowners, who allege forced acquisition and irregularities, are now pushing for the return of their properties.
Currently, CSTU is operating from a temporary campus in the Khalishaduli area near Wapda Gate in Chandpur city. Students, citing prolonged delays, are demanding a permanent location. They allege that due to the actions of former Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and her brother, corruption led to the recent cancellation of the government land acquisition. Students now urge authorities to promptly allocate new land for a permanent campus.
“We see students across the country studying in their own university campuses, yet we are still at a temporary site due to land acquisition corruption,” one student said. “We appeal to the district administration to select an appropriate site within the city for our permanent campus.”
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mohsin Uddin confirmed the investigation into allegations of irregularities and stated that the previously proposed site would no longer be considered for the university. “The proposed land acquisition has been canceled, and the university will not be built at that location,” he said. “We have not received any directives from the Ministry of Education to begin a new acquisition process. If such directives are issued, we will proceed accordingly.”
Reports indicate that 62 acres of land were initially acquired for CSTU. Allegations surfaced that Dr. Dipu Moni and Salim Khan, a local leader from Lakshmipur Model Union, pressured numerous families into selling their land at below-market prices.
One landowner, Kalu Khan, shared, “Salim Khan forced me to sell about 50 decimals of land under threat of violence. Though the market value was 3.7 million BDT, I received only 1.2 million BDT. I want my land back.”
Local residents from Lakshmipur, including Md. Kajol and Habibur Rahman, stated that they were forcibly evicted from their homes. “Salim, using Dr. Dipu Moni’s influence, made us leave our homes. Now that the university is not happening, we want our land back,” they said, adding that many families were similarly displaced, with their fertile lands and homes now lying unused.
Notably, the Cabinet approved the draft of the Chandpur Science and Technology University Act-2019 on December 23, 2019. The bill to establish CSTU passed in Parliament on September 9, 2020, and the university commenced its activities with 90 students in 2023. Currently, CSTU has approximately 180 students enrolled across three departments.
