Students of Dhaka College withdrew their blockade from the Science Lab intersection on Tuesday after about an hour and a half.
The students had blocked the road in protest of Monday’s attack on teachers and students who had opposed the proposed merger of seven colleges into the Dhaka Central University. The protest was joined by higher secondary students from Dhaka College.
Traffic came to a standstill across the surrounding areas, including Mirpur Road, soon after the students began their sit-in around 10am. Students from other colleges also joined the protest in solidarity.
Around 11:30am, Dhaka College Principal Prof AKM Elias Hossain convinced the students to withdraw the blockade. The protesting students then marched towards New Market, allowing traffic movement to gradually return to normal.
Earlier, the agitated students said the protest was triggered by Monday’s incident in which a higher secondary student was assaulted and a teacher was harassed on campus.
The demonstration coincided with a nationwide protest programme announced by members of the BCS General Education Cadre.
New Market Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohsin Uddin said, “A scuffle broke out between senior and junior students on Monday. Students took to the streets demanding justice for the incident. The college authorities have informed us that a probe committee is being formed.”
He added that additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed in and around Science Lab to prevent any untoward situation.
Meanwhile, members of the BCS General Education Cadre observed work abstention and wore black badges across government colleges, madrasas, and education offices nationwide, protesting the harassment of a teacher.
The BCS General Education Association said the programme would continue until teachers’ dignity and campus security are fully ensured.
