FE Today Logo

Demand for varsity status

Titumir pupils out on full shutdown

FE REPORT | February 04, 2025 12:00:00


Students of Government Titumir College block a railway track in Mohakhali in the city on Monday to press for steps to upgrade their educational institution to a university. — FE Photo

The students of Government Titumir College on Monday began a complete shutdown of all academic activities sine die to press home their demand for a university status of their institution.

They blockaded roads and railways at Mohakhali crossroads, causing serious trouble to the city-dwellers, especially the patients visiting nearby hospitals.

As per an announcement made by agitators on Sunday night, they blocked the street in front of their college at 12:00 noon for the fifth consecutive day.

Some of them continued fast-unto-death programme, while three were admitted to hospital as their health deteriorated.

It was found that the students blockaded in front of their college, creating a barricade with bamboo on either side of the road.

As a result, traffic came to a halt on Mohakhali-Gulshan and neighbouring streets. Students were chanting slogans to press home their demand.

However, people from all walks of life expressed discontent over the consecutive agitation blocking their movement in this congested city.

Small entrepreneur Mahmudul Hasan, who was trying to reach a nearby bank, was seen quarrelling with students around 1:30 pm.

"I'm stranded for almost an hour, but agitating students are blocking me," he told the media, adding that he had an urgency to withdraw a big sum of cash.

"Why should I face trouble for their petty demand," questioned Mr Hasan.

Besides, a number of patients also faced trouble in visiting nearby hospitals.

Meanwhile, the students said the state has forced them to take to the streets.

A group of students marched in procession towards Mohakhali rail crossing around 3:40 pm. Three hunger strikers also joined riding on wheelchairs.

During the blockade, Ali Ahmed, a student, declared on a microphone that the chief adviser or education adviser must come and announce the university status for Titumir College.

"Otherwise, we won't leave the railway line. We apologise to the common people. The state has brought us here and made us stand," he uttered.

Aman Ullah Alvi, a marketing department sophomore, told the media that when they took position at the rail crossing, a train got stuck there.

"The students, who took position at the crossing, were surrounded by police."

Rail services have remained suspended since 4:00 pm due to the railway blockade in Mohakhali area. Rail links between Dhaka and other districts remained suspended till the filing of the report at 8:30 pm.

A large contingent of police, armed police battalion and BGB members were stationed on the eastern part of the rail gate. Water cannons were also there.

According to a BGB statement, four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were deployed at Mohakhali.

Home adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the students might hold programmes on their college compound instead of harassing people.

He said this while responding to queries from journalists following a meeting at his office on Monday. "They may come to discuss and hold programmes on their college campus if they have any demands," added Mr Chowdhury.

At one stage, the adviser sought journalists' idea on how to hold demand-seeking programmes instead of blocking roads and harassing the public. Meanwhile, ICT adviser Nahid Islam urged students to have patience and not to cause public suffering during the programme.

He said this in reply to queries from journalists after his visit to the Saraswati Puja mandap at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University on Monday morning.

Earlier on Sunday, education adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said the government would not take any decision based on any deadline-driven demand as such a demand was not logical.

Rejecting his statement, the students blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Mohakhali in the evening.

[email protected]


Share if you like