Students of seven government colleges in Dhaka withdrew from road blockades on Thursday evening after staging protests for the second consecutive day, demanding the immediate issuance of the ordinance to formally establish Dhaka Central University (DCU).
The protesters cleared Science Lab and Technical intersections later in the evening but warned of renewed agitation on Monday, saying they would again blockade Science Lab Morh and set up a mass assembly stage if their demands remain unmet.
The demonstrations began around 1pm, with students blocking roads at Science Lab intersection as part of a pre-announced program. At one point, clashes broke out between the college protesters and Dhaka University students, resulting in the vandalism of a Dhaka University bus. Simultaneously, another group enforced a blockade at Technical Morh.
The blockades paralyzed traffic on several major arteries of the capital, causing severe congestion and significant hardship for commuters, pedestrians, and transport workers. Essential goods were delayed, while thousands of residents were stranded for hours.
Dhaka College student Ziaur Rahman, speaking on behalf of the protesters around 2:00 pm at Science Lab, warned of a more intense programme if the government fails to act.
“We have been blocking roads at multiple points today, just as we did yesterday. If the ordinance is not issued, we will announce a march to Jamuna. The interim government has failed to keep its commitment to us,” he said.
The students alleged that during sit-ins in front of the Education Building on December 7 and 8, the Ministry of Education had promised that the ordinance would be issued in the first week of January. With no progress visible, they said street protests were their only option.
They also claimed that while academic activities of the proposed university have begun, the absence of a legal framework has disrupted classes and delayed examination results.
“Our demand is simple and justified—finalise the ordinance and resolve the crisis,” they said.
The prolonged blockade at Science Lab caused immense inconvenience for thousands of commuters.
The seven colleges have been pressing for the formal establishment of Dhaka Central University for several years. The draft ordinance, published on September 24, proposed an interdisciplinary “schooling” structure, dividing the seven colleges into four schools while maintaining higher secondary education within the colleges.
The framework faced criticism from some teachers concerned it could undermine career progression and institutional autonomy. Among students, opinions were also divided, with some supporting swift legal recognition and others opposing the schooling structure.
Following the criticism, the Ministry of Education revised the draft ordinance, and the Secondary and Higher Education Division recently said the updated version has been sent to the Ministry of Public Administration.
