Students from the seven government colleges have laid siege to the Shikkha Bhaban, demanding the swift implementation of the proposed ordinance for Dhaka Central University.
Around 1pm on Sunday, the protesters blocked the road in front of the Shikkha Bhaban by taking position at the adjacent intersection.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students of the seven colleges have opposed retaining the colleges’ independent status while implementing the ordinance for “Dhaka Central University.”
They demand that the proposed ordinance be implemented immediately to establish Dhaka Central University, with the existing higher secondary college buildings serving as its campuses.
Students allege that if the colleges are turned into a university, many teachers will lose teaching opportunities there and will be transferred to government colleges outside the capital. They claim teachers are opposing the new university for personal interests and are misleading higher secondary students.
Earlier, last Wednesday, undergraduate and postgraduate students of Dhaka College took to the streets against those opposing the standalone university, causing severe traffic disruption and public suffering across the New Market area.
The protesters had announced that if the ordinance for establishing Dhaka Central University was not issued by Saturday, they would begin a sit-in in front of the Education Building from Sunday.
On 12 November, the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Education announced that a policy decision had been taken to merge the seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University and establish a new public university named Dhaka Central University.
The seven colleges involved in the movement are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Titumir College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, Begum Badrunnesa Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, and Kabi Nazrul Government College.
