Students of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government’s Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum, demanding that she personally visit their dormitories to address their concerns.
They announced that if their demands remain unmet, a new phase of protest will be declared by noon on Monday.
The announcement came during a student press conference on Sunday. Despite the authorities` directive to vacate the dormitories by 12 PM on Sunday, the students have rejected the order and declared they will continue to occupy the dormitories until their demands are fulfilled.
For nearly a month, Dhaka Medical College students have been boycotting classes as part of their ongoing movement to secure safe and adequate housing. On Saturday, they also staged a human chain on campus to press their demands.
In response, the DMC authorities convened an emergency Academic Council meeting and subsequently announced the indefinite suspension of academic activities.
The council also ordered all students to vacate the dormitories by Sunday noon.
The emergency meeting was attended by key officials, including the Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Brigadier General Md. Asaduzzaman, Vice Principal Professor Dr. Faruk Ahmed, and departmental heads.
The students’ five-point demand includes:
1. Immediate approval of a budget for the construction of new dormitories for male and female students.
2. Alternative housing arrangements until new facilities are available.
3. Separate budget allocation and rapid implementation for the new and temporary housing.
4. Declaration of the old, hazardous academic building as abandoned and approval of a budget for a new building.
5. Appointment of student representatives to oversee the progress of the proposed developments.
