Students of seven government colleges block the Science Lab intersection in the capital demanding the issuance of an ordinance for the proposed Dhaka Central University, causing immense suffering for commuters on Wednesday. — FE photo by K Asad-Uz-Zaman Students of seven government colleges in the capital on Wednesday blocked roads at different locations demanding the implementation of the proposed Dhaka Central University.
Their demonstrations caused severe public disruption including traffic disorder.
The students staged road blockades at Science Lab, Technical intersection, Tantibazar intersection, Mohakhali, and Farmgate from around 12:00 pm.
They called upon the interim government to approve the "Dhaka Central University Act 2025" at the upcoming Advisory Council meeting on 15 January and the President to issue the final ordinance simultaneously.
Police sources said that road blockades caused severe traffic congestion in those areas. Additional police personnel were deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Lalbagh Zone Md Aminul Kabir Tarfadar said students of Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College blocked the Tantibazar intersection in the old part of the capital at around 11:30 am, halting vehicular movement.
Assistant Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) of Darussalam zone under Mirpur Division Imdad Hossain Bipul said students of Government Bangla College blocked roads at Gabtoli, Technical intersection and Mirpur, triggering a massive traffic disorder.
He said that police urged the protesting students to clear the main roads.
Students of Government Titumir College briefly blocked the Mohakhali intersection to press the demand for implementing the proposed university in coordination with the other colleges.
The blockade lasted about fifteen minutes, after which traffic returned to normal with police intervention.
Additional Police Commissioner of DMP Gulshan zone Ziaur Rahman Zia said the road was reopened and traffic came back to normal.
The demonstrators said that their movement would continue if their demand was not fulfilled within the stipulated time.
Earlier on Tuesday, the students under the banner of Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement said that the draft of the "Dhaka Central University Act-2025", prepared to establish the proposed Dhaka Central University by integrating seven colleges, was published on the website of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education on 24 September.
Following its publication, the draft sparked widespread debate both in favour of and against various provisions.
The students are pressing for a one-point demand: approval of the updated draft of the Dhaka Central University Ordinance at the Advisory Council meeting scheduled today (Thursday), followed by its final promulgation by the President.
During the movement, ministry officials held a meeting with student representatives and assured them that all ancillary processes would be completed by December, with the ordinance to be issued in early January.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
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