Students of United International University (UIU) have announced a “Dhaka Blockade” for Sunday if their demands are not met by the end of Saturday.
Protests began Saturday morning in the capital’s Vatara–Notun Bazar area, where students blocked roads to press home a five-point charter of demands.
These include the withdrawal of expulsion orders issued against students involved in the movement against the university’s vice chancellor.
The Private University Alliance of Bangladesh—a platform representing students from various private universities—has expressed solidarity and joined the protest.
Leaders of the alliance warned that if UIU’s demands remain unmet by Saturday night, they will enforce a complete blockade of Dhaka on Sunday.
On Saturday, shortly after 8am, UIU students began their sit-in protest by halting traffic. Police arrived shortly afterward and requested them to vacate the road. The students, however, refused to move until their demands were met.
At around 11am, police used batons to disperse them, injuring several students, some of whom were later hospitalized.
Not long after, the students regrouped and resumed their blockade. This led to severe traffic congestion and public suffering in the area, with movement on the entire Notun Bazar road coming to a standstill.
Since morning, heavy gridlock has been reported in Rampura, Badda, Pragati Sarani and Tejgaon Railgate areas. Commuters, school children, and ambulances carrying patients have all been affected.
Those caught in traffic said that they had been stuck in one place since morning. Even alternative routes were not moving, forcing many to walk to their destinations.
Meanwhile, the protesting students said they would continue their movement and blockade until their demands are met.
They also called for punitive action against the police officers involved in the alleged attacks on students.
The students’ demands are as follows:
- The unconditional withdrawal of the wrongful expulsion of UIU students and arrangement of compensation.
- Proper investigation and punishment of students, teachers, officials, and staff involved in the expulsions.
- Implementation of reform demands against long-standing irregularities and authoritarian practices at UIU.
- Formation of an independent reform commission for private universities.
- Withdrawal of the 15% tax imposed on private universities.
UIU students alleged that more than 20 students protesting irregularities and demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellor and the head of the CSE department were unlawfully expelled by the UIU administration.
Although they submitted memorandums to the University Grants Commission (UGC) several times, no effective steps have been taken, they said.
Hence, they were compelled to take to the streets to demand the withdrawal of the illegal expulsion orders and administrative action against the so-called Awami syndicate and authoritarian officials.
Previously, on April 26 and 27, amid protests by students on campus, the vice-chancellor and 11 administrative officials resigned.
On April 28, UIU suspended all academic activities indefinitely.
Although online classes resumed on May 20, a large section of students rejected them and have continued their protests, demanding the return of in-person classes and administrative transparency.
