Seven college students announce blockade in 3 locations of capital over one-point demand

The Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement has announced a blockade programme at three key intersections in the capital today (14 January), demanding the approval and promulgation of the ordinance for establishing Dhaka Central University.

According to a press release issued yesterday (13 January), the blockade will begin at 11am at Science Lab, Technical Intersection and Tatibazar Intersection. The students are pressing a one-point demand: approval of the updated draft of the Dhaka Central University Ordinance at the Advisory Council meeting scheduled for 15 January, followed by its final promulgation by the president.

The movement warned that students’ movement will continue if the demand is not fulfilled within the stipulated time.

The press release noted that the draft of the “Dhaka Central University Act-2025”, prepared to establish a proposed Dhaka Central University by integrating seven colleges, was published on the website of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education on 24 September. Following its publication, the draft 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, the students said.

The release also recalled that protesting students staged a continuous sit-in programme from 7 to 8 December, marching towards the Education Building. During the movement, ministry officials 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.

However, the students claimed they have learned from a reliable source that a meeting of the interim government’s Advisory Council will be held on 15 January. They are now demanding that the Advisory Council approve the “Dhaka Central University Act-2025” at that meeting and ensure the immediate issuance of the final ordinance.