Students of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University on Monday vandalised temporary structures set up for the Asia International Trade Fair on the university’s research field, demanding that the land be returned for academic and research activities.

The protest comes after the Cabinet on October 18 approved in principle a proposal to relocate the Bangladesh Secretariat from Abdul Gani Road to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with the government targeting to begin office operations at the new site by 2029.

Over 150 students entered the fairground around 1:15 pm and damaged several temporary installations, according to eyewitnesses.

Two agricultural tractors were brought to the site to demolish the structures, while a microphone-equipped pickup van was used to give instructions to the students.

The students first attempted to bring down the main entrance gate around 12:45pm using a tractor.

When that failed, they joined forces, using large bamboo poles to pull it down.

They eventually demolished the gate around 1:15pm, chanting slogans such as “Our campus, let it remain ours” and “We want the bureaucrats and secretaries out”.

The students also used tractors to damage other temporary structures and plough parts of the field.

Police personnel were stationed at the three-way intersection near the China Friendship Conference Centre and the Planning Ministry but did not intervene during the demolition.

Officer-in-Charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Monirul Islam said police would not obstruct the students’ demolition activities, expressing hope that they would return peacefully.

The students said they launched the protest to reclaim the research field and resume academic and research activities there.

Rupa Akter, a second-year student of the university’s Department of Agriculture, said they had submitted memorandums to successive governments, including the Awami League government, the interim government and the BNP government, but had received no effective response.

“Our only demand is that the research field be returned to us. Instead of sitting in the Secretariat, the government should return our research field and allow us to continue our research work there,” she said.

The students also raised concerns about the environmental impact of construction on the land and the possible restriction of public access to the area.

Arafat, a fifth-year student of the university, said the land’s capacity to absorb carbon and the potential environmental consequences should be assessed before any structures were built there.

He said people regularly visited the area around the mausoleums of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia for morning and evening walks and recreation.

The construction of a Secretariat there could lead to tighter security measures, restricting public movement and recreational activities, he added.

The students said university teachers had the necessary documents and information regarding ownership of the research field. A committee of teachers was working on the issue, and a meeting had already been held with secretaries to explore a solution through discussions with the relevant authorities.

They said they planned to restore the unused land for research purposes by planting grass, improving soil quality and gradually planting trees.

The students also said they had spoken to the Agriculture Minister on Sunday, who assured them of his support.

They said they wanted to gradually improve and cultivate the land to make it fertile and suitable for research.