The students from the seven colleges (Dhaka College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College, Eden Mohila College, Government Bangla College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Government Titumir College and Kabi Nazrul Government College) have announced a blockade of Dhaka, set to begin at 9 a.m. on Monday (Jan 27), following a clash with Dhaka University students that resulted in the injury of at least 20 students. The announcement was made during a press conference at Nilkhet intersection at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, local media reported.
Abdur Rahman, a student from Dhaka College and the focal person for the Seven Colleges to University Transformation Team, stated that Dhaka University had become an autocratic institution. He emphasised that students have been demanding the cancellation of the affiliation of the seven colleges and the establishment of an independent university for a long time. "Our demand is for the entrance exams to be held under the independent university from the current academic year. However, Dhaka University has not implemented this, and instead, it has issued a notice admitting more students than its capacity," he added.
Rahman further mentioned that the students had submitted memorandums to various authorities regarding these issues. He also alleged that the pro-vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Dr. Mamun Ahmed, had misbehaved with students. In protest, the students were staging a sit-in under the Nilkhet arch when Dhaka University students, along with the police, attacked them.
Rahman emphasised that an independent university should be established for the seven colleges and called for accountability regarding the attack on students. He also demanded the punishment of Dr. Mamun Ahmed for his actions. He said that in protest of the attack, the blockade will begin at 9:00 am on Monday, with students from the seven colleges holding protests at their respective campuses.
Earlier, around 11:00 p.m., students from the seven colleges marched from Dhaka College and reached the Muktijoddha and Democracy Arches. Students from the Sir AF Rahman Hall also gathered in front of their hall.
Around 11:30 p.m., clashes broke out as Dhaka University students chased the seven college students, forcing them to retreat across the Nilkhet area. At least 20 students were injured in the incident. To control the situation, the police fired two rounds of sound grenades.
