Students of seven colleges on Sunday demanded cessation of their affiliation with Dhaka University and the establishment of an independent and autonomous university for them.
Students of the seven colleges -- Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College staged demonstrations and held protest rallies at their respective campuses to fulfill their demand.
They also staged a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar.
The protesting students have announced a two-day boycott of all academic activities, including
classes and exams. On Sunday morning, November 3, students marched in front of the central Shaheed Minar at Dhaka College, raising slogans in support of their cause.
Abdur Rahman, an organiser of the movement and a student at Dhaka College, stated, "We cannot keep addressing these issues year-round. Our one and a half lakh students are not being treated with respect."
He said that their protests would continue and that discussions are ongoing, leaving the door open for dialogue.
They said they have been suffering academically and from session jams.
The colleges were originally under DU until 1992, when they were brought under the National University.
In 2017, following a directive by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, their affiliation with the DU was reinstated.
On the other hand, Chief Adviser Office said the seven DU-affiliated government colleges will have a dedicated unit to look after them, while still maintaining their affiliations with the university.
It will be formed within the ambit of Dhaka University and will have a separate registrar and other officials who will oversee the seven college.
A separate facility will be set up at Dhaka University (DU) to carry out administrative works of seven colleges affiliated with the DU.
The representatives of the seven colleges also talked to Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and they came up with a decision that there will be a designated place in the DU so that administrative works (of the seven colleges) could be conducted.
