7 colleges warn of restarting protest if gazette notification not issued by Sunday

Students from seven colleges have uttered warning to restart protests on Monday if the gazette notification for establishing an interim administration for the proposed Dhaka Central University is not issued by Sunday.

The protests will be held in front of the Ministry of Education in a bid to minimize public sufferings, they said.

The announcement came from a press conference held on Saturday afternoon outside Eden Mohila College.

Representatives from all seven colleges attended the press meet. 

In the press conference, they placed five key demands. These include initiating the 2024-25 admission test within two working days of forming the interim administration, unveiling the university’s outline and logo within five working days, issuing an ordinance for the new university by June 16, and allocating funds for it in the 2025-26 fiscal year budget. 

Reducing session jams, publishing the academic calendar, addressing irregular results, and stopping the collection of additional fees were also sought in the event.

Zafarin Akhter from Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College and Abid Hasan from Dhaka College read out the written statement at the press meet.

They warned that if the government fails to meet the primary demand for the interim administration’s gazette notification, they will escalate protests to meet all demands.

They also vowed to gain the university ordinance through street protests if necessary.

The students noted that after the cancellation of the colleges’ affiliation with Dhaka University on February 25, the University Grants Commission (UGC) proposed an interim administration to run the colleges until the new university goes to operations.

However, two and a half months later, the proposal still awaits approval from the Ministry of Public Administration, they sighed.