Dhaka Medical College closed indefinitely amid protests over accommodation, students ordered to vacate halls

The five demands of students are:

• Immediate budget approval for new boys' and girls' hostels
• Arranging alternative accommodation until new facilities are built
• Separate budgets and visible action for both new and alternative hostels
• Declaring the old academic building abandoned and relocating it
• Budget allocation for constructing a new academic building

Dhaka Medical College (DMC) has announced the indefinite suspension of all academic activities in response to student protests demanding urgent action to resolve their ongoing accommodation crisis.

In addition, authorities have directed all students, except for current professional MBBS examination participants and foreign students, to vacate their hostels by 12pm tomorrow (22 June).

The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the college's Academic Council held today (21 June), according to an official statement issued by the DMC administration.

Confirming the decision, DMC Principal Prof Dr Md Kamrul Alam told The Business Standard, "Students are demanding new hostels right now. They are at risk. But it is not possible to build this instantly. We agree with their demands.

"We also want a new hostel for Dhaka Medical College. That is why all halls will be closed, and students will be accommodated in halls according to new allotments. Academic activities will be resumed quickly."

Meanwhile, protesting DMC students said that they will not comply with the directive to vacate the halls.

"We believe that the order to close the hall has been issued with the intention of suppressing the movement. We will not vacate the hall. We will continue our movement until our demands are met," said Abdullah Al Noman, a student of the K-79 batch, speaking to TBS.

He added, "Plaster is falling from the ceiling of our Shaheed Dr Fazle Rabbi Hall. The condition of the walls and pillars is also poor. That is why we have long been demanding a new hall.

"Until a new hall is built, alternative accommodation must be arranged."

Students continue living in danger at Shaheed Dr Fazle Rabbi Hall despite official declaration deeming the dormitory uninhabitable. Crumbling plaster and falling debris from the ceiling pose daily risks, yet some residents refuse to vacate. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

The students began protesting on 28 May by boycotting classes and exams with five demands related to campus safety and accommodation.

From 6 June, they began an indefinite boycott.

College authorities said efforts are underway to address the crisis and resume academic operations as soon as possible.

Founded in 1946, DMCH stands as one of the nation's leading centres for medical education. Home to over 1,300 undergraduates and nearly 1,000 postgraduates, it admits around 230 MBBS students each year. The college's shutdown marks a rare and deeply disruptive moment in its distinguished history.