7-college students protest delay in ordinance for proposed univ

Students have staged a protest demanding the swift issuance of the ordinance for the proposed Dhaka Central University, which is to be formed by incorporating seven government colleges in the capital.

The protest began on Wednesday (August 6) morning, with students gathering at Dhaka College. Around 11:00 am, they brought out a protest procession from the main gate of the college.

According to the students, although activities are already underway under the name “Dhaka Central University,” the ordinance has yet to be issued, prompting their agitation.

From around 10:00 am, students began assembling at the main gate of Dhaka College. Nearly 200 students took part in the protest. The procession started from within the college premises around 11:00 am, moved towards the Science Lab intersection, then turned back via Nilkhet, paused briefly in front of Eden Mohila College, and finally returned to the main gate of Dhaka College, where a press conference was scheduled to conclude the programme.

Abdur Rahman, a key organiser of the movement and focal person of the Seven College University Transformation Team, said, “We’ve repeatedly said that we won’t tolerate any conspiracies by the education syndicate. We've long been fighting for an independent identity. Now is the time to reap the fruit of that struggle.”

He added, “Since the government has already initiated the process of drafting the ordinance, it must be implemented within the stipulated time. No further uncertainty should be imposed on students.”

On the other hand, protesters expressed concerns that the ordinance implementation process involves five steps. The University Grants Commission (UGC) will prepare a draft, which will then be sent to the Law Ministry. After revision, it will be returned to the UGC, then forwarded to the Ministry of Education, which will send it to the advisory council. Finally, it will require the President’s approval before being published as a gazette.

Students fear that this lengthy process could cause delays, especially at the Law Ministry and Education Ministry stages. While no clear bureaucratic complications have surfaced yet, they believe the slow pace of administrative procedures may hinder timely enforcement of the ordinance. That’s why they have taken to the streets, demanding its publication within a reasonable timeframe.

On March 26 this year, the government announced plans to separate seven government colleges in Dhaka to form a new public university. The UGC proposed the name “Dhaka Central University” for the institution. The seven colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Mirpur Bangla College and Government Titumir College.