Students from the seven government colleges in Dhaka have issued an ultimatum, warning they will organize a long march toward the Ministry of Education if the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance is not issued within a week.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the base of the Shaheed Minar at Dhaka College on Thursday at noon. Written statements were jointly read by Dhaka College student Abdur Rahman and Eden College student Smriti Akter.
In their statement, the students demanded that the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance be issued and receive final approval from the advisory council by September 24. They warned that if the ordinance is not promulgated by the deadline, they would march to the Education Ministry on September 25.
The students also alleged that multiple conspiracies are being orchestrated against the proposed university. “A faction is inciting students across campuses against the university,” they said. “Under the pretext of preserving tradition, some students are being used to obstruct government initiatives at the last moment.”
They further accused certain teachers of organizing protests and disrupting classes. According to the students, on September 17, some faculty members canceled classes and exams, transported students to the University Grants Commission (UGC), and led programs opposing the ordinance. “We have heard that a few teachers benefiting from the previous Awami League government are behind this,” the statement added.
The students expressed concern that ongoing teacher-led demands could undermine their vision for an independent and autonomous university. “It seems efforts are underway either to trap us under another affiliation or to revert the system back to the old National University structure,” they said.
For years, students of Dhaka’s seven government colleges have been demanding a separate, autonomous university. The current protests and press conference reflect their opposition to both delays in issuing the ordinance and the teacher-led resistance against the proposed university structure.
