Students from Kansas University seize government fish farm office, rebrand it as 'Shaheed Mir Mughdha Hall'
Khulna University Students Occupy Fish Seed Production Farm
In a dramatic turn of events, students of Khulna University have taken over the Gallamari Fish Seed Production Farm, located within the university campus. The occupation, which occurred in August 2025, has caused a significant disruption to fisheries operations and national projects funded by international partners.
The students forcibly took control of about 10.35 acres of government land, including the farm manager’s office, a sub-project director's office of the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, a fish health diagnostic laboratory, and a training center. They declared the premises "Shaheed Mir Mugdho Hall," a move that suggests a political or protest motive related to student activism.
The BCS Fisheries Cadre Association (FCA) has condemned the occupation, highlighting the severe disruption to government fisheries operations. This includes halting World Bank-funded projects, stopping carp and shrimp hatchery work, broodfish management, disease diagnosis, modern technique training, production of genetically pure fish fry, and testing of water quality parameters. The FCA has called for immediate legal action against those involved in the illegal occupation and for restoring government control to protect national interests and resume normal activities.
Md Mehedi Hasan, the farm manager, reported significant damage to government property and expressed concerns to higher authorities about the occupation and its consequences.
The students' occupation has been ongoing since mid-August, with normal operations at the Fish Seed Production Farm disrupted. There is public appeal from government officials and associations urging the government to take legal measures to end the occupation and reclaim the facility.
In March this year, Farida Akhtar, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, acknowledged the students' demands as reasonable and promised a solution. However, as of now, the occupation remains ongoing.
Location: Gallamari Fish Seed Production Farm, Khulna
Occupiers: Some students of Khulna University
Occupation date: Early to mid-August 2025
Declared as: Shaheed Mir Mugdho Hall
Reason: Political/student protest likely linked to the July Movement
Government Response: Condemnation by Fisheries Cadre Association; calls for immediate legal action
Impact: Halt of fisheries projects, damage to government property, suspension of hatchery and research activities
Current status: Occupation ongoing with demands for eviction and restoration of government control
This occupation significantly impacted fisheries operations and national projects funded by international partners, causing concern over both environmental and reputational consequences.
The occupation of the Gallamari Fish Seed Production Farm by Khulna University students, declared as Shaheed Mir Mugdho Hall, is likely a political or student activism-related protest, impacting education-and-self-development in the form of disrupted training, as well as general-news with its links to the July Movement.
The ongoing occupation, which started in August 2025, has had severe consequences, disrupting fisheries projects and causing damage to government property, thereby affecting politics through the halt of World Bank-funded projects and the impact on national interests.
