Proposed university: Issue gazette to form interim admin by today

Students of seven colleges in the capital yesterday issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the immediate issuance of a gazette notification to form an interim administrative body for the proposed Dhaka Central University.

They warned of launching tougher programmes if their demand is not met by today. They said they would lay siege to the relevant ministry instead of holding protests that could cause public disruption.

The announcement came at an emergency press conference in front of Eden Mohila College around 4:00pm, where students gathered to protest what they termed unacceptable delays in the transition process.

Zafrin Akter of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College and Abid Hasan of Dhaka College, both members of a transition oversight team, presented a five-point list of demands.

"Students of the seven affiliated colleges have repeatedly taken to the streets, faced police action, shed blood, and some even lost limbs while demanding their right to a proper education," said Zafrin. "If the gazette is not issued by May 18, we will be compelled to resume our protests from Sunday."

She said further details of the movement would be shared through press releases depending on developments. "If we return to the streets, we won't go back to the campus without the new university ordinance in hand."

The students' key demands include: immediate issuance of the gazette forming the interim body, publication of an academic calendar to address session backlogs, cessation of unauthorised fee collection, admission test arrangements for the 2024–25 session within two working days of forming the interim body, publication of the university's outline and logo within five working days

They also called for the formal ordinance to be issued by June 16 and for budget allocations for Dhaka Central University to be included in the 2025–26 national budget.

The seven institutions -- Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College -- were re-affiliated with Dhaka University in 2017.

However, amid ongoing protests over academic and administrative issues, DU authorities and the colleges agreed in January this year to sever the affiliation.