- Dhaka
Students from seven colleges in the capital yesterday issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the immediate issuance of a gazette notification to establish an interim administrative body for the proposed Dhaka Central University.
They warned that if their demand is not met by today, they would launch tougher programs. Instead of holding protests that could disrupt public life, they said they would lay siege to the relevant ministry.
The announcement was made at an emergency press conference held around 4:00 pm in front of Eden Mohila College, where students gathered to protest what they described as unacceptable delays in the transition process.
Zafrin Akter of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College and Abid Hasan of Dhaka College, both members of the transition oversight team, presented a five-point list of demands.
“Students of the seven affiliated colleges have repeatedly taken to the streets, faced police action, shed blood, and some have even lost limbs while demanding their right to proper education,” said Zafrin. “If the gazette is not issued by May 18, we will be forced to resume protests from Sunday.”
She added that further details of the movement would be shared through press releases depending on developments. “If we return to the streets, we will not go back to campus without the new university ordinance in hand.”
The students’ key demands include the immediate issuance of the gazette forming the interim body, publication of an academic calendar to address session backlogs, stopping unauthorized fee collection, arranging admission tests for the 2024–25 session within two working days of forming the interim body, and publishing the university’s outline and logo within five working days.
They also called for the formal university ordinance to be issued by June 16 and for budget allocations for Dhaka Central University to be included in the 2025–26 national budget.
The seven institutions—Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College—were re-affiliated with Dhaka University in 2017.
However, amid ongoing protests over academic and administrative issues, Dhaka University authorities and the colleges agreed in January this year to end the affiliation.
Write your opinion