Commuters suffer in gridlocks as students from 7 colleges block major Dhaka intersections
Separately, Tejgaon College students blocked the Farmgate intersection to demand justice for the murder of fellow student Rana
Students from seven government colleges in Dhaka blocked four major intersections across the capital today (14 January), demanding the issuance of an ordinance merging the seven institutions into Dhaka Central University.
The protests caused severe traffic congestion on major roads, affecting commuters, including office workers.
Students from the seven colleges blocked Tatibazar, Science Lab, Technical and Mohakhali intersections to press home their demand for the ordinance. Separately, Tejgaon College students blocked the Farmgate intersection to demand justice for the murder of fellow student Sakibul Hasan Rana.
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The seven colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls College, Government Titumir College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Government Bangla College.
At around 11:45am, students from Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Government College and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College blocked the Tatibazar intersection, bringing traffic in Old Dhaka to a near halt.
The protesters demanded that the ordinance be approved at tomorrow's Advisory Council meeting and issued officially by the president.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Police Commissioner (Lalbagh Division) Mofizul Islam said the Tatibazar blockade had made traffic in Old Dhaka almost impossible to manage.
Diversions could not be implemented, causing widespread inconvenience, he added.
At about 12:30 pm, students from Govt Bangla College blocked the Technical intersection in Mirpur.
Then, at approximately 1pm, students from Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, and Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls College blocked the Science Lab intersection, halting traffic towards New Market, Shahbagh and Dhanmondi and causing gridlock on surrounding streets.
Government Titumir College students also staged an intersection blockade in Mohakhali but cleared it after 15 minutes.
A commuter from Malibagh, Nilima Faris, said it had taken her 55 minutes to get to Eskaton, a trip which usually takes about 15 minutes. "The roads were completely jammed," she said, adding that she had not anticipated the protest would trigger such massive gridlock.
"In such situations, we have to leave early; there is no other way. But I set out an hour ahead of time. The surrounding roads were also clogged, particularly around Siddheswari College and Viqarunnisa Noon School and College."
The protests follow a press release issued yesterday by the seven colleges, noting that the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education published on its website on 24 September the draft of the Dhaka Central University Act, 2025.
The colleges said the draft had sparked widespread debate both in favour of and against various provisions.
In response, the Ministry of Education organised a series of consultation meetings with all relevant stakeholders. Based on the recommendations received, the ministry subsequently updated the draft, according to them.
They also recalled that protesting students held a continuous sit-in from 7 to 8 December, even marching towards Shikkha Bhaban.
Amid the movement, ministry officials had held a meeting with student representatives and assured them that all ancillary processes would be completed by December, with the ordinance to be issued in early January, the protesting students said.
The students said they had learned from a source that a meeting of the interim government's Advisory Council would be held tomorrow.
They demanded that the council approve the Dhaka Central University Act at that meeting and ensure the immediate issuance of the final ordinance.
In a separate protest, Tejgaon College students blocked the Farmgate intersection to demand the swift arrest of fellow student Sakibul's murder suspects.
DMP Deputy Police Commissioner (Ramna Division) M Tanvir Ahmed said the multiple roadblocks had made traffic management extremely difficult.
He noted that admission tests would take place at Dhaka University and several other places in the afternoon, adding that students' ability to reach the exam centres was uncertain.
"Even so, we are making every possible effort to ease commuters' suffering. We have spoken with the university administration to arrange for vehicles coming from outside to be parked at the university gymnasium field."
