Students from 7 colleges call off protest programmes

“We withdraw the programme to prevent Dhaka University buses from passing in front of Dhaka College and the siege of New Market Police Station.”

The students of seven government colleges have withdrawn the protest programme aimed at block Dhaka University buses or other vehicles from using the road in front of Dhaka College.

They also withdrew their previously announced siege of the New Market Police Station to demand justice for the attacks against them.

On Tuesday afternoon, after meeting Home Affairs Advisor Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Information Advisor Nahid Islam and student representatives, Dhaka College student Md Muinul Islam, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced the withdrawal of the protest programme.

He said, "We have withdrawn the programme we had announced to not allow Dhaka University buses to use the road in front of Dhaka College and to surround New Market Police Station."

The students from seven colleges have been protesting to demand that their colleges be freed from their affiliation with Dhaka University and brought under the auspices of a separate university. On Sunday, they went to discuss five of their demands with Dhaka University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Mamun Ahmed. The protesters later alleged that he "misbehaved" with them.

In response, they launched a protest that night, blocking the Shahbagh, Science Lab and Technical intersections. Later, a section of the students left the Science Lab intersection and marched towards the residence of Pro-VC Mamun.

When the procession reached the Mukti and Ganatantra Toran area on the campus through the Nilkhet intersection, a clash broke out with students from Dhaka University. Students from the seven colleges alleged that the police took the side of the Dhaka University students during the clash.

Accusing the police of “bias”, they announced blockade programmes in front of their respective colleges from 9am on Monday, demanding that all those involved in the attack be brought to justice.

Under the circumstances, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan held an emergency meeting with the principals of the seven colleges on Monday afternoon before speaking at a press conference.

He announced that a decision had been made to “honorably separate” the seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University. As part of the this, Dhaka University would stop overseeing the admissions process for the students of the seven colleges from the 2024-25 session, i.e., this year.

Later, protest leader Muinul held a briefing on the Dhaka College premises on Monday night and announced new programmes.

He said that Pro Vice-Chancellor Mamun Ahmed had to resign and take responsibility for “pitting the students of Dhaka University and the seven colleges against each other”.

He also demanded that the police officials at New Market Police Station be withdrawn over the “attack” on Dhaka College student Rakib. Muinul added that the Dhaka University authorities must apologise to the students of the seven colleges.

If these demands were not met within 24 hours, he announced a siege of the New Market Police Station and the blockade of any vehicles, including Dhaka University buses, from using the roads in front of the seven colleges.

After withdrawing the programmes on Tuesday, Muinul once again Pro-VC Mamun for the violence.

“Different people from different parties may have been involved in the attack that day. For this, I will blame Dhaka University Pro-VC Mamun Ahmed sir. If he had apologised at the beginning, or taken the initiative, then this incident would not have happened.

“The issue of the pro-VC is not related to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Dhaka University is an independent university. We have been assured that pro-VC Mamun Ahmed will no longer be involved. Regarding his resignation, the student representatives of the seven colleges who were present on the day of the incident will sit with the VC sir, and a decision will be taken on this issue.”

The student representatives said that the government has requested three days to investigate the “attack” on Dhaka College student Rakib and the other students.

Eden College student Sadia Afrin Mou said, “One of our six demands has been accepted. There have been fruitful discussions on the remaining demands as well. We hope a positive decision will be made.”

“Congratulations to the students of the seven colleges - you will get your university. Work is now underway to ensure that there is no session jam."