Several hundred students from seven government colleges in Dhaka affiliated with Dhaka University blocked the Science Laboratory intersection in the capital yesterday, demanding a separate autonomous university for them.
The students blocked the crossing around 12:30pm, causing huge traffic congestion in other parts of the capital, including Shahbagh, Elephant Road, Hatirpool, Banglamotor, Kalabagan, Green Road, and Dhanmondi.
This halted traffic on the road and caused inconvenience for pedestrians and regular commuters. However, ambulances carrying patients were allowed to pass.
Later, students of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University withdrew their blockade programme at around 5:00pm and declared to resume it today (Wednesday).
The protesting students chanted slogans such as, “Affiliation or freedom, freedom, freedom,” “We reject the commercialisation ofeducation,” “No more servitude, we want independence,” “Let DU stay with DU, free the seven colleges,” “Oppression or rights, we demand our rights,” and “We reject the mockery of the administration.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement personnel were on high alert in and around the Science Lab area and other key spots nearby.
According to the students, since these colleges became affiliated with Dhaka University, their studies have been plagued by session backlogs, faculty shortages, and other issues. They stated that in 2017, these seven government colleges were affiliated with DU with a promise of better education quality.
However, no effective steps were taken to implement this goal, and issues like faculty shortages and session backlogs continue to disrupt their education.
Abdur Rahman, the focal person for the Seven College Transformation Team, said, “We are protesting for a legitimate cause, but the government hasn’t responded to our demands. Our movement will continue until the demands are accepted. We have taken to the streets to press for our demands, and we urge the government to address them swiftly.”
The protesting students outlined three main demands: first, the formation of a reform committee to draft a framework for establishing an autonomous public university for the seven colleges.
Secondly, the reform committee should prepare a proposal for a separate university for the seven colleges after consulting with faculty, students, and stakeholders within 30 working days.
Thirdly, the reform committee will coordinate with the DU administration to maintain the existing academic structure, ensuring no further session delays for current students.
The seven DU-affiliated colleges include Government Titumir College, Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, and Kabi Nazrul Government College.
Earlier, on October 21, students of the seven colleges blocked Nilkhet and Science Laboratory crossings for about four hours placing a three-point demand charter, including establishing a separate autonomous university for them.
Following the protest, on October 24 the Ministry of Education established a 13-member committee to address the academic and administrative issues of the seven colleges, directing the committee to submit a report with necessary recommendations within six weeks.
Afzal Rakib Hossain, a student in the Department of English at Dhaka College, said that they had been calling for an independent university for a long time but the administration has not paid any heed to their demands.
“The administration said they would form a commission on the matter, but they haven’t done so. We will leave the road once a commission is formed.”
The student also called for the scrapping of the committee formed by the administration.
