7-college students lift blockade after 4hrs, threaten fresh protest 19 Jan if demands not met
They are pressing a single-point demand for the immediate issuance of an ordinance to establish "Dhaka Central University"
Students from seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University withdrew their blockade programme this afternoon (15 January), restoring traffic movement in parts of the capital after more than four hours of disruption.
However, they warned that they would return to the streets on Monday (19 January) if their demands are not met by Sunday.
The blockade was lifted around 5pm, after which vehicular movement gradually returned to normal on Mirpur Road and surrounding areas, including the Science Lab intersection.
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Earlier in the day, students staged sit-ins at key points in the city, demanding the immediate issuance of an ordinance to establish "Dhaka Central University."
Under a singular banner, the protesters had announced blockades at Science Lab, Technical intersection and Tantibazar yesterday.
Jisanul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of the Dhanmondi zone, told The Business Standard that students from several colleges, including Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College, besieged the Science Lab intersection, causing severe traffic congestion in Dhanmondi and New Market areas.
Vehicular movement there was disrupted from around 12:30pm.
Meanwhile, Ariful Islam Rony, assistant commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Darus Salam traffic zone, said students from Mirpur Bangla College blocked the Technical intersection for about an hour. "Vehicular movement has been partially halted in the area since 1:45pm."
The protesters said they would continue their movement until the interim government's Advisory Council approves the draft Dhaka Central University Act 2025. They claimed to have learned from sources that a meeting of the Advisory Council was scheduled for Wednesday.
According to the students, the education ministry had assured them earlier that all formalities for establishing the university would be completed by December last year, but no ordinance has yet been issued.
Traffic disruptions were also reported in Puran Dhaka, Mirpur, Gabtali and the Science Lab-Dhanmondi corridor due to the sit-ins. Office-goers and examinees were among those most affected.
"We have no choice but to take to the streets. The ministry gave us a timeline in December, but we are still waiting," said protester Shahriar Rabbi.
Yesterday, the students had blocked the busy Farmgate intersection along with other points for several hours before suspending the programme around 4pm to reduce public suffering. However, they reiterated that a fresh blockade would be enforced on Monday if their demands remain unmet.
