Students of 7 colleges block Science Lab, Technical intersections
Students from seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University staged protests by blocking two major intersections—Science Lab and Technical—on Sunday evening, creating severe traffic congestion across the surrounding areas of the capital.
The protests erupted after allegations surfaced that DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed misbehaved with students during a discussion about their issues.
The students began their blockade in the evening of Sunday, voicing frustration over the Pro-VC’s alleged misconduct.
According to the students, when they approached him with concerns about the problems of the seven colleges, including the reduction in admission seats, he reportedly dismissed them from his office, stating he had no knowledge of the affiliated colleges.
The students further claimed that a memorandum detailing their demands had been submitted 21 days earlier, but the Pro-VC neither reviewed it nor took any action. His alleged aggressive and dismissive behaviour has sparked the movement against his conduct.
During the protest, student representative Abdur Rahman demanded an apology from the Pro-VC for his behaviour and presented a five-point list of demands:
Abolish the unreasonable quota system in the admission tests for seven colleges starting from the 2024-25 session.
Limit admissions to classroom capacity to ensure better academic conditions.
Admit students based on a proper teacher-student ratio to maintain educational quality.
Introduce negative marking in the admission tests of the seven colleges to maintain a standard evaluation process.
Ensure transparency in admission fees by depositing the money into a new account outside DU, overseen by an expert committee formed by the ministry.
The students remain firm in their demands, with calls for accountability and reforms to address the long-standing issues faced by the seven colleges. Traffic disruption continues in the affected areas as the protest shows no signs of slowing down.
