Students from 7 colleges block road to demand independent university

Dhaka Mirpur Road remains gridlocked for a long time on Tuesday, causing immense suffering to commuters, as students from seven DU-affiliated colleges stage a demonstration at the Science Laboratory intersection in the city to press for the formation of an independent university. — FE Photo

Students from seven colleges in Dhaka have taken to the streets once again to press for the formation of an independent university.

They took up positions at the Science Laboratory intersection around 11:30am, reports bdnews24.com.

The protest caused heavy traffic congestion on nearby roads.

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.

Mirpur Road is one of the thoroughfares which is seeing heavy traffic due to the demonstration. Some passengers are getting off their buses and walking to their destinations amid the gridlock. Others are turning their vehicles around and trying to find alternate routes.

Deputy Inspector Kamal Hossain of New Market Police Station said that protesters have been urged to leave the road in order to minimise public suffering. Law enforcers are trying to bring the situation under control, he said.