Students continue demonstration in city

Students from seven government colleges vowed on Monday to continue their sit-in in front of the Education Building in the capital until the authorities agree to transform the seven colleges into an independent university.

They also warned of announcing further tougher programmes after internal discussions if their demand was not realised.

Visiting the spot, the FE correspondent found over 200- 250 students demonstrating in front of the Education Building.

They chanted different slogans to press home their demand for establishing a university for the seven colleges.

The protesting students said they will decide their next course of action after discussions among organisers.

"Our sit-in is still ongoing. We stayed here overnight. If the government does not take a decision, we will continue our movement. We are not leaving until we receive a clear directive from the authorities," said a student who preferred not to be named.

The students said that they will not leave the streets without the issuance of the ordinance.

They said that their demand is logical and it must be accepted by the government authorities concerned.

The students stayed on Abdul Gani Road in front of the Education Building throughout the night.

A police official said that they have asked the students to move to the near side of the building at around 10:00 AM on Monday to ease public suffering.

On Sunday morning, the students began their sit-in from their campuses and continued it at the Education Building intersection.

At noon, they occupied the road in front of the building, and later in the afternoon, they blocked the High Court intersection.

The blockade halted traffic on roads heading toward Press Club, Gulistan, Dhaka University, and the Bangladesh Secretariat areas.

The protest leaders of the students announced that their sit-in will continue until the government officially issues an ordinance establishing a central university for the seven colleges.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com