Students of the seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University (DU) blocked Mirpur Road in the Science Lab area of the capital on Sunday.
At around 6pm, over 200 students blocked the road, and as a result there was heavy traffic congestion in the surrounding areas including Science Lab, Nilkhet, and Elephant Road.
It is reported that the students of the seven colleges went to meet the pro-vice chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed, to inquire about the progress of their five-point demand.
However, when they met him, he reportedly "misbehaved" with the students.
In response, the students immediately blocked the road.
Zakariya Bari Sagar, a student of Kabi Nazrul Government College, said when they inquired about the progress of their previous memorandum regarding the admission process for the 2024-25 session (demanding the abolition of the quota system, reduction in seat numbers, and other points), the pro-VC treated them very "badly" and dismissed them.
He further added: “Our demand is that the admission test for the seven colleges should be conducted as per our demands. When the state is making decisions about us, they are now starting to delay the process. We are protesting today against the pro-vice chancellor’s misbehaviour.”
The students blocked the Science Lab area with the demand that the pro-vice chancellor apologize and address their five demands.
The demands put forth by the students include the abolition of the unjust quota system in the admission test starting from the 2024-25 session.
They also demand that no student be admitted beyond the classroom capacity and that the teacher-student ratio be considered when admitting students.
Additionally, they called for the introduction of negative markings in the admission tests.
Furthermore, the students sought transparency in the admission fees, requesting that the fee be deposited into a new account, in coordination with a special committee formed by the Ministry, rather than Dhaka University itself.