Ease public suffering

Since the mass uprising on August 5, it has become a habit for students and the public to block roads over various demands. Over the past two and a half months, we've witnessed numerous instances of road blockades in Dhaka for these demands. While we understand the rationale behind these protests and often express sympathy and solidarity with the causes, protesters must also remember that Dhaka is already a notoriously congested city. Prolonged road blockades can severely disrupt daily life for its residents.

On Tuesday (October 22), media reports indicated that students from seven colleges protesting for autonomy blocked the Nilkhet and Science Lab intersections for more than four hours. This led to significant traffic jams on various roads. Prior to that, on Saturday (October 19), employees from various government and autonomous institutions protesting for job nationalization blocked the Shahbagh intersection for nearly seven hours. Such blockades have become a common occurrence throughout Dhaka. Just yesterday, roads were again blocked in Dhaka calling for the president's resignation.

In any society or state, there will be various classes and groups, each with its own distinct demands. It is natural for them to take to the streets to assert their rights. However, if such blockades continue day after day in this small, congested city, everyone must consider the impact on daily life.

Dhaka is not just a place for protests; it is home to some of the country's best schools, colleges, and universities, as well as top hospitals. Every day, thousands come from outside Dhaka for medical care. For many, traveling abroad requires passing through Dhaka. Additionally, there are numerous important public and private institutions, courts, and businesses. A blockade by one group for a single day can paralyze half of Dhaka—are the protesters aware of this?

Students from seven colleges do not wish to be affiliated with Dhaka University. They are advocating for the establishment of a separate autonomous university. They have announced that if their three demands are not met within 24 hours, they will resume their protests starting today, Wednesday (October 23).

The three demands are: A reform committee must be formed swiftly with the intent of establishing an autonomous public university comprising the seven colleges; The reform committee will draft a blueprint for the establishment of a standalone university based on discussions with teachers, students, and stakeholders from the seven colleges within 30 working days; The reform committee will coordinate with the Dhaka University administration to maintain the current structure and ensure that no environment is created that could lead to session complications for regular students.

Respecting the students' demands, we urge the administration to engage in dialogue with the students to resolve the issues. Alleviate public hardship. We also ask the students to exercise patience. Such an important matter may not be resolved within a 24-hour ultimatum.

This is a significant policy change related to education. It is essential for educators, politicians, government advisors, and students to come together to resolve this issue. However, all parties must ensure that public hardship does not arise until a solution is found. This is something that other protesters should also keep in mind. Road blockades in Dhaka for any demands should be avoided, as Dhaka is a city for everyone.