Seven College Students Announce New Programme of Action Over Proposed Dhaka Central University Ordinance

Students from the cluster of seven government colleges in Dhaka have announced a new series of protest programmes in response to delays surrounding the proposed ordinance for the establishment of Dhaka Central University, a planned independent public university. The declaration was made during a press briefing held in front of Dhaka College on Wednesday, 3 December, following a demonstration on campus earlier in the day. The announcement was delivered on behalf of the students by Abdur Rahman.

The students issued an ultimatum to the relevant authorities, giving them until Saturday to publish the long-awaited ordinance. Should the government fail to do so within this timeframe, the students have vowed to begin a continuous sit-in protest from Sunday, 7 December, in front of the Education Building in the capital. According to Rahman, the sit-in will continue indefinitely until the ordinance is officially released.

Speaking at the press conference, Abdur Rahman expressed deep frustration over the prolonged delay in finalising the process to transform the seven colleges into a unified, standalone university. “For a long time, the effort to establish an independent university for the seven colleges has remained stagnant,” he said. “Because the ordinance has not been issued, complications are only increasing. From Sunday we will commence an uninterrupted sit-in in front of the Education Building, and we will continue our movement until the ordinance is published.”

Earlier in the morning, students began gathering on the Dhaka College campus, where they staged a demonstration demanding immediate action from the authorities. The protestors later marched onto Mirpur Road, blocking the busy thoroughfare and disrupting traffic for more than two hours. The blockade drew widespread attention, as hundreds of students chanted slogans, held placards, and demanded a concrete timeline for the new university’s formation.

After the prolonged blockade, student leaders stepped aside from the road upon announcing their next phase of agitation. Many expressed a sense of betrayal, arguing that the government had repeatedly promised progress on the new university but failed to deliver meaningful steps.

The seven government colleges—previously affiliated with Dhaka University—have long demanded administrative independence and improved educational services. Students argue that the current affiliation structure results in extensive session delays, administrative complications, examination backlogs, and limited access to essential academic resources. They believe the creation of Dhaka Central University would streamline the academic process, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure greater autonomy for both teachers and students.

The government has already taken an in-principle decision to dissolve the colleges’ affiliation with Dhaka University and merge the seven institutions under one umbrella, forming a new public university known as Dhaka Central University. This move was intended to reduce academic pressure on Dhaka University and improve the operational efficiency of the seven colleges.

However, despite the decision being approved at policy level, the crucial ordinance establishing the university has yet to be issued. Students fear that the delay may push the initiative back indefinitely, which has driven them to intensify their demonstrations.

The seven colleges—Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Titumir College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Dhaka Metropolitan College, and Government Bangla College—collectively accommodate hundreds of thousands of students. Any delay in administrative reforms directly affects academic progression for a large portion of the city’s student population.

Student leaders have urged the government to act swiftly, warning that failure to publish the ordinance in the coming days will lead to an escalation of protests, potentially affecting academic activities across the capital. As the ultimatum approaches its deadline, all eyes are now on the authorities to see whether the long-pending ordinance will finally be issued.