The students blocked the busy intersection for about one hour, causing severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas. At around 11:25 am, they withdrew the blockade and returned to the campus following an appeal from the college principal.
Witnesses said Dhaka College Principal Professor AKM Elias and Vice-Principal Professor Parveen Sultana Haider arrived at the Science Lab intersection during the protest. They spoke to the students, urging them to lift the blockade and resume normal activities. Following their request, the students left the road, restoring traffic flow in the area.
The students alleged that certain provisions of the new ‘Dhaka Central University Act-2025’ pose a threat to the intermediate section of Dhaka College, which they believe would erode the institution’s century-old legacy.
Rakib Hossain, a second-year higher secondary student, said, “The intermediate department of Dhaka College is not just an educational step—it is a part of our history. If this department is abolished, the college’s proud tradition will be destroyed.”
Another student, Samiul Islam, added, “We don’t want future students to lose the opportunity to study intermediate here. The plan to turn the college into a university is fine, but not at the cost of erasing its history. We want development while preserving our tradition.”
The blockade led to severe traffic jams in and around Azimpur, Nilkhet, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, and Mohammadpur, disrupting movement across major parts of the city for nearly an hour.
The protest follows a scuffle on Monday (October 13) between teachers and students at Dhaka College, after students from seven colleges gathered to demand the quick implementation of the ‘Dhaka Central University Act-2025’. Tensions escalated when teachers reportedly detained a student in the common room after he allegedly made a “broker” remark. Other students later surrounded the administrative building and rescued their classmate.
During the incident, higher secondary students also clashed with undergraduate students, further fueling unrest on the campus.
Normalcy has since returned to the area after Tuesday’s intervention by the college administration.
