Titumir College students block road demanding recognition as university

The protesting students also question the principal for not reaching out to those who went on hunger strike

Protesting students of Dhaka’s Government Titumir College have blocked the road in front of their campus demanding the transformation of the institution into a university.

The students took up positions on the street around 12pm on Thursday

Ali Ahmed, a fourth-year student, said: “Five of our students were on hunger strike. The campus was shut down, but the principal still held a cultural programme.”

“The demonstrators fell ill, but he still didn’t speak to them. Instead, he blasted music from speakers. This outraged the students, prompting them to block the road.”

“We’ve blocked the road over demands for state recognition as a university and other issues. We’re also demanding justice for the principal,” he added.

After 5pm on Wednesday, five students of the college began an indefinite hunger strike over five demands, including the transformation of the college into a university.

The demands of the protesting student group "Titumir Oikya" include: granting state recognition as Titumir University and publishing the university’s academic calendar, forming the university administration and conducting the admissions for the 2024-25 session, ensuring accommodation of 100 percent of students, or, covering for all students’ residential costs immediately.

The demands also include the addition of International Minimum Standard Law and Journalism subjects from the 2024-25 academic years, appointment of qualified teachers with PhDs to conduct academic activities, limiting the number of seats to improve the quality of education, and ensuring land and financial allocations for building a research laboratory of international standards.

Earlier on Monday, students gave the authorities 48 hours to turn Government Titumir College into a university and form an administrative structure following the transition.

Students set 48-hour deadline to turn Titumir College into university

They threatened to otherwise block roads and railways in Mohakhali again from Thursday.

They also announced plans to enforce a “Shut Down Titumir” programme by halting the college’s classes and exams from Tuesday morning until the state’s recognition of the university.

After months of protests and sit-ins demanding an independent university, the students hoisted a banner reading "Titumir University" at the main gate of the educational institution on Jan 7.

Earlier, the education ministry formed a five-strong committee to examine the feasibility of transforming the college into a university on Dec 3 last year.

However, the students allege that the committee was not functioning “properly”.