Seven college students announce new protest programme

Students of the seven colleges have announced a new programme over the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance. They said if the ordinance is not issued by Saturday, they will begin a sit-in in front of the Education Building from Sunday.

The announcement was made by Dhaka College student Abdur Rahman on Wednesday after their protest programme.

He said the process to establish a separate university for the seven colleges has stalled for a long time. The delay in issuing the ordinance is creating further complications. He said they will continue the movement until the ordinance is issued.

Earlier in the day, students of the seven colleges began demonstrations at the Dhaka College campus and eventually blocked Mirpur Road. After more than two hours of blockade, they withdrew and announced the new programme.

The government has already taken a policy decision to cancel the affiliation with Dhaka University and merge the seven government colleges into a new standalone public university named ‘Dhaka Central University’. The education ministry confirmed this in a press release on November 12.

The release urged everyone not to create confusion or conflict based on personal assumptions, incomplete information or rumours. It also called on all to remain conscious so that students’ academic lives and the broader education system are not disrupted in any way.