Students of 7 colleges set up 'ordinance stages' to press for Dhaka Central University
If any "negative updates" regarding the ordinance emerge by 21 January, the protesting students warned of initiating a protest march to the State Guest House Jamuna, the chief adviser’s official residence.
Students of the seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University have begun erecting "ordinance stages" (Adhyadesh Mancha) in front of some of their respective campuses to demand the immediate issuance of an ordinance for the proposed Dhaka Central University.
This morning (19 January), students were seen using timber and bamboo to build these platforms near the main gates of Dhaka College and Government Bangla College.
Despite ongoing examinations limiting the number of protesters on the streets today, organisers confirmed that the movement is scaling up for a decisive week.
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Abdur Rahman, the spokesperson for the protestors, said that four permanent stages will be established across the capital through spontaneous donations from students and various student organisations.
These include platforms shared by Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, and Begum Badrunnessa Government Girl's College; one in front of Sarkari Bangla College; one for Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College; and another at Government Titumir College.
In addition to these stationary points, a floating stage mounted on a truck will travel between the seven campuses from 19 to 21 January.
This mobile platform will host public meetings, discussions on the current crisis, and cultural programmes to galvanise support for the "Dhaka Central University Act-2025" draft.
March to Jamuna
The protesters have issued a clear warning to the interim government regarding the progress of the proposed ordinance.
Abdur Rahman stated that if any "negative updates" regarding the ordinance emerge by this Wednesday (21 January), the students will initiate a protest march to State Guest House Jamuna, the chief adviser's official residence.
Conversely, if the update is positive, students from all four stages will converge at the Science Laboratory intersection the day after (22 January) to hold a grand celebratory procession that will parade through the capital.
The movement remains steadfast in its demand that the draft law, which aims to provide administrative and academic autonomy to the colleges, be formalised through an executive ordinance without further delay.
