Higher secondary students of five government colleges, who had blockaded Shahbagh demanding the cancellation of the “schooling model” in the draft ordinance of the proposed Dhaka Central University, left the area on Sunday afternoon.
After blocking the road for about an hour, the students suspended their program and left around 12:30pm, restoring traffic flow in the area.
Around 11:45pm, students of Dhaka College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Shahid Suhrawardy Government College, and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College held a procession and took position at the Shahbagh intersection, causing severe traffic congestion on the important road.
The students alleged that including the schooling model in the proposed university structure would create uncertainty for higher secondary or HSC-level students in government colleges. They demanded its cancellation and called for an independent structure for higher secondary education.
Protests had started earlier on their respective campuses before the students gathered collectively at Shahbagh. They warned that their movement would continue until authorities cancel the controversial system.
Shahbagh police station Inspector (Investigation) Md Asaduzzaman said the students had left the road and the situation had returned to normal.
“However, there is still a minor traffic jam in front of Shiksha Bhaban as some students remain there. The police are managing the situation,” he added.
Meanwhile, undergraduate and postgraduate students of seven colleges were marching and holding a sit-in towards Shikkha Bhaban, demanding the speedy promulgation of the proposed university ordinance.
They allege that although the Ministry of Education has published a draft law for the proposed Dhaka Central University, there has been no visible progress toward finalizing the ordinance.
Consequently, nearly 150,000 students are facing an identity crisis, academic uncertainty, and concerns about their future careers.
