Dhaka College Students Block Road Demanding Renovation of Hall

Students of Dhaka College staged a road blockade on Friday night, protesting the unsafe condition of a dormitory building that has long been deemed vulnerable to earthquakes. The demonstration caused traffic on the Mirpur–Newmarket road to come to a standstill for nearly an hour, according to police reports.

The blockade began at approximately 10:30 pm when over 200 students from various departments marched from the campus to the front road and stopped traffic. Protesters carried banners and shouted slogans denouncing alleged negligence and corruption on the part of the college authorities. Their central demand was the urgent renovation or reconstruction of Akhtaruzzaman Elias Hall, which remains in a dangerous condition despite previous warnings and a declaration that it was abandoned.

Students explained that, although the hall had been officially declared unsafe, new students had been admitted this year, heightening concerns over safety. The morning’s tremor served as a wake-up call, with reports that parts of the building shook alarmingly, reinforcing fears that the structure could collapse in a major earthquake.

Police Superintendent AKM Mahfuzul Haque told the press that after nearly an hour of the blockade, the college principal, AKM Elias, arrived on site and personally requested the students to clear the road. Traffic resumed soon after, and no incidents of violence were reported.

An English department student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We have repeatedly demanded a rebuild of the hall for our own safety. The administration has failed to act, so we were left with no choice but to protest.” The student added that if no action is taken promptly, students may resort to similar demonstrations again.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns over campus safety and administrative accountability, and it has sparked discussions about the need for stricter oversight of student accommodations in older institutions.