DU Correspondent
A section of agitating students of the University of Dhaka (DU)—protesting for disassociation of seven colleges from DU, put the academic and administrative buildings under lock and key for second consecutive day demanding cancellation of the decision to affiliate the colleges with DU. The protesting students also boycotted classes and examinations demanding an end to the university's affiliation with seven colleges. They declared that they would continue their protest until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) expressed solidarity with the students’ demand and called upon the protesting students to go back to the classroom asking them to be rationale as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) was not present to make any decisions. DUCSU leaders said, “In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), no effective decision can be taken on the issue. DUCSU will take effective measures by discussing with university administration and education ministry after VC’s return from China”.
DUCSU issued a press release on based on the current DU crisis on Sunday noon signed by the Vice-President (VP) Nurul Haque Nur and General Secretary (GS) Golam Rabbani who also said, “As the elected representative DUCSU supports all (logical) demands of the protesting students. DUCSU leaders, in the meantime, held discussions on Sunday with the university administration because of the issue.”
However, sidestepping DUCSU’s assurance the spokesperson of the movement Shakil Mia announced that they would continue their protest until their demands are met, saying, “We can only go back to the classroom after getting assurance from the VC of fulfilling our demands.” “We want an end to the affiliation issue as the university cannot bear the burden of the seven colleges," he added.
Earlier, on Monday morning the agitating students locked the main entrances of Registrar building, Arts building, Curzon Hall, Mokarram Bhaban, Law faculty, Business faculty, Institute of Modern Languages, Institute of Education and Research, and Social Science buildings from around 8am as part of their protest.
Since 8:00 am, the protesting students took the position at the main entrances of the academic buildings including arts and science faculties and administrative buildings and locked all the gate of those buildings. Later, the protesters brought out processions blocking all roads on the campus and took the position at VC Chattor.
The students want the authorities to accede to their four-point demand that also includes publishing all the academic results within two months; automating certain administrative and academic activities; controlling external vehicles and fixing rickshaw fares inside the university campus. Meanwhile, the DU authority on Sunday said that university administration is going to take proper initiatives to solve the crisis and appealed to the protesting students to go back to their classes.
DU Pro VC (Administration) Prof Dr Muhammad Samad came up with this after a meeting with seven college convener, dean of various faculties and DUCSU leaders in the afternoon. He called upon the protesters to go back to the classroom and said, “After the arrival of the VC Dr Akhtaruzzaman from China we will decide on how to solve the crisis,” adding "We have all kind of support to any logical demand of the students."
Prof Samad told the journalists, “We have talked about the affiliation of the seven colleges and the demands of the students at a meeting and will take a final decision after the return of the VC.” However, ignoring the authority’s assurances the demonstrating students on Sunday announced the continuation of their movement demanding cancellation of the affiliation as the university authorities did not assure scrapping its ties with the colleges.
Regarding the disassociation of seven colleges, Samad said, "We have no authority to cancel the affiliation with the seven Colleges with DU. But we are trying to solve the problems protesters bring out and face both DU students and seven colleges’ students". On July 18, the students blocked the Shahbagh intersection for the second consecutive time.
About 500 students blocked the intersection around noon, causing severe traffic congestion in the area and called off the demo at 2:00 pm with an announcement to boycott all classes and examinations from Sunday until their demands are met. The affiliated colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.