Dhaka was brought to a total standstill on Wednesday as students from the seven affiliated colleges and Tejgaon College occupied five strategic intersections, plunging the capital into a state of paralysis that left thousands of residents stranded.
What has become a near-daily ordeal of sudden blockades, reached a peak as major thoroughfares were choked for hours, forcing commuters to abandon vehicles and travel on foot while even ambulances remained trapped in the gridlock.
Despite explicit directives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the interim government to avoid unauthorised gatherings, protesters remained defiant, ignoring police requests to clear the roads and announcing a “continuous programme” starting Thursday.
Seven-college protests, escalation
Students representing the seven colleges took to the streets at the Technical, Science Lab, Tantibazar, and Mohakhali’s Amtoli intersections from noon.
They are pressing a one-point demand for the issuance of a final ordinance to establish Dhaka Central University. Simultaneously, at 11am, Tejgaon College students blocked the Farmgate intersection, demanding justice for the murder of their classmate, Sakibul.
Last December, a clash occurred between two factions at the Tejgaon College hostel, during which Sakibul Hasan Rana, 18, an HSC second-year student at the college, was seriously injured. He died on 10 December while undergoing treatment, triggering protests.
While the students suspended their demonstrations around 4pm, they warned of a continuous movement beginning Thursday, including a potential siege of Jamuna, the chief adviser’s official residence.
Trapped commuters expressed sharp anger at both the administration and the police for the lack of effective intervention.
DMP directives ignored
On 10 December, following the announcement of the election schedule, DMP Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali requested all parties to refrain from illegal gatherings.
The interim government had urged the public to avoid such actions as the schedule for 13th parliamentary election was imminent. It was officially announced by the Election Commission on 11 December.
Although the DMP warned of legal action against violators, regular programmes continue at Shahbagh and other major roads without consequence.
Protesting students are demanding that the “Dhaka Central University Act 2025” be approved during the Advisory Council meeting on 15 January, followed by a final presidential ordinance.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam told TIMES of Bangladesh that the blockades persist because ministries are not acting responsibly.
He noted that the police often become “victims” when they take action, bearing the brunt of ministerial inaction while critically ill patients remain stuck in traffic.
Tantibazar, Technical blockades
In Old Dhaka, students from Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam College and Suhrawardy College blocked the Tantibazar intersection from 11:30am, causing severe tailbacks before clearing the road at 2:30pm due to public pressure.
ADC Md Aminul Kabir Tarafder noted that additional police were deployed to manage the situation. Meanwhile, Bangla College students occupied the Technical intersection from 12:10pm, chanting slogans for “Azadi” and the immediate issuance of the university ordinance.
Assistant Police Commissioner Imdad Hossain Bipul said the blockade halted all traffic toward Gabtoli and Mirpur Road until the students moved at 4pm.
Science Lab, Mohakhali, and Farmgate
The Science Lab intersection was blocked at 1pm by students from Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, and Begum Badrunnessa Government Women’s College, bringing traffic to a halt between New Market and Dhanmondi.
Students even offered prayers on the road before clearing the area by late afternoon.
In Mohakhali, Government Titumir College students held a 15-minute blockade, during which three ambulances were seen stuck at the railway crossing.
At Farmgate, students blocked both the intersection and the Elevated Expressway entrance, demanding the arrest of Sakibul’s killers. They vowed to remain on the streets until judicial progress is visible, chanting, “My brother is in the grave, why is the killer still outside?”
Motiur Rahman, one of the frustrated commuters, lamented that blocking roads has become a “tradition” and criticised the police for their perceived indifference to the value of public time.
CCU Administrator Professor AKM Elius, Principal of Dhaka College and current Interim Administrator of the proposed Dhaka Central University (CCU), backed the students’ demands.
He revealed that the draft ordinance is currently with the Ministry of Public Administration with three steps remaining before reaching the Advisory Council.
While urging students to remain patient and responsible, he stressed the need to expedite the process to end the uncertainty for the first batch of students who have already commenced classes.
