Dhaka Medical College to reopen Saturday

Following student protests over housing shortages and safety concerns, Dhaka Medical College is set to reopen. Academic activities will resume on Sunday, July 12, while student hostels will reopen at 8:00 AM on Saturday, July 11.

This decision was made during an emergency Academic Council meeting held on Tuesday, July 8.

A notice signed by the college's Principal, Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam, stated:
“According to the decision made in the Academic Council meeting on July 8, academic activities at Dhaka Medical College will resume from July 12, and hostels will reopen from 8:00 AM on July 11.”

It should be noted that students had been boycotting classes since May, demanding the fulfillment of five key demands, including safe and adequate housing, hostel renovations, improved security, and fair access to essential facilities. As part of their movement, students held a human chain protest on campus on June 21.

As tensions escalated, the college administration announced an indefinite closure on June 22 and ordered students to vacate the hostels by noon. The administration cited poor infrastructure in both academic buildings and hostels as a reason for the shutdown. They also acknowledged the legitimacy of the students’ demands and stated that regular communication with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Directorate General of Health Education was ongoing.

On June 23, a delegation of students met with Professor Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Health, at the Secretariat. After the meeting, students stated that although there was some progress in discussions, they would not return to classes until their demands were met.

Since then, academic and hostel activities had remained suspended. Finally, the Academic Council's recent decision marks the resumption of academic activities from July 12.