Titumir College students deadline authorities again over six-point demand

They threaten to intensify their movement if representatives are not contacted

Students of the government-run Titumir College in Dhaka's Mohakhali have given authorities 15 hours to contact student representatives and declare it a separate independent educational institution or university.

At a press conference held outside the main gate of the college on Saturday, the students gave the ultimatum to declare Titumir College as a separate independent educational institution or university.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of Titumir Oikya, a platform formed to convert the college into a university in protest against the education ministry's “duplicity”, Belal Hossain said: “We, the students of Titumir, have been victims of duplicity in various ways from various places related to education in the state.

“Starting from the education ministry, there is no department, office, or responsible person related to education in the nation to whom the demands of the students of Titumir College have not been conveyed.

“But the conspiracy and self-interested behaviour of the authorities of the terrible syndicate sitting in every nook and cranny is a big challenge for the implementation of Titumir University.

“On Feb 3, Joint Secretary Nuruzzaman accepted our six-point demands, but despite the promise of a notification within seven days, nothing has been issued.”

He said, “Titumir students have received a letter from the UGC saying they will announce the structure of the new university on Sunday, and we should participate in that programme and there they will announce the name of the new university.

“We, the 35,000 students of Titumir, reject that.”

Another student named Abdul Hamid said, “From Feb 3 to today, they have not contacted any of our representatives, or taken any steps to resolve the issue.

“If they do not accept the six points, we give them an ultimatum of 15 hours. If the student representatives are not contacted, we will be forced to go on a strict movement.

"They assured us that Titumir would not be included with the other six colleges.

“But on Friday, a letter invited student representatives to discuss converting all seven into one university.

On Feb 12, students held a press conference accusing the education ministry of duplicity and demanding a meeting with the chief advisor to address their concerns and discuss implementing their demands.

Students launched a hunger strike with seven demands, including converting Titumir College into a university, and planned the “Barasat Barricade to North City” to block the Dhaka North City Corporation area.

On Feb 3, as they protested by blocking the Mohakhali rail crossing and road, Nuruzzaman and other officials met with them on campus.

While officials said converting the college into a university was not feasible, students suspended their sit-in and hunger strike after the ministry assured them of addressing other demands.