Students from the seven government colleges have continued their sit-in in front of the Education Building on Monday, December 8, reiterating that their protest will not stop until the authorities agree to transform the seven colleges into an independent university.
They also said further programs will be announced after internal discussions.
Over 150–200 students were seen demonstrating behind the Education Building, where they chanted different slogans to press home their demand for establishing a university for the seven colleges.
Protesting students stated that they will decide their next steps after discussions among organisers. They warned that the movement will intensify if their demand remains unaddressed.
Nur Nabi Islam, one of the protesting students, said, “Our sit-in is still ongoing. We stayed here overnight. If the government does not take a decision, we will continue our movement. We are not leaving until we receive a clear directive from the authorities.”
Another student, Sumaiya Tahmin, added, “We will not leave the streets without the issuance of the ordinance. Our demand is logical; it must be accepted.”
According to police on duty, the students stayed on Abdul Gani Road in front of the Education Building throughout the night. They were asked to move to the rear side of the building at around 10:00 am to ease public suffering.
On Sunday morning, December 7, students of the seven colleges began their sit-in from their respective campuses and continued it at the Education Building intersection. At noon, they occupied the road in front of the building, and later in the afternoon, they blocked the High Court intersection. The blockade halted traffic heading toward Press Club, Gulistan, Dhaka University, and the Secretariat.
At a subsequent press conference, the protest leaders announced that their sit-in will continue until the government officially issues an ordinance establishing a central university for the seven colleges.
NS/MHK