Students demand Dhaka Central Univ ordinance

Several hundreds of students from seven major government colleges in Dhaka staged demonstrations demanding immediate issuance of the ordinance for the proposed Dhaka Central University.

The protest, including a sit-in, was held on the road adjacent to the Shikkha Bhaban on Monday.

The protesters vowed not to leave the streets until the ordinance is officially published.

Amid the protest, police put up barricades on the road leading to the Secretariat, halting traffic movement in the area.

On Monday noon, the agitating students put forward a four-point demand, including amending the draft ordinance based on stakeholders' opinions and pledging to issue the ordinance within the next three working days.

In a press release issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Education said that it had received over 6,000 opinions regarding the draft ordinance. The ministry is now compiling and analyzing those opinions and will soon hold a series of consultation meetings with teachers, students, academics, and representatives from education-related civil society groups.

The crisis surrounding these colleges dates back to 2017, when the government hastily transferred their affiliation from the National University to the University of Dhaka without adequate preparation. The move led to prolonged academic and administrative complications.

In January this year, the authorities decided to delink the seven colleges from Dhaka University once again.

However, as the decision came before the finalisation of a new university framework, further deepening the complications. At present, the seven colleges are being run under an interim arrangement, with the principal of Dhaka College serving as administrator.

These government colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnessa Govt. Girls College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.

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