Dhaka University (DU) students staged a protest rally on Friday, demanding the cancellation of the affiliation of seven colleges and the construction of a new dormitory for female students.
The rally, held outside the Vice-Chancellor's residence, saw students voice their concerns over limited campus resources and inadequate housing.
The protesters issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the DU administration, warning of class and exam boycotts and possible lockdowns of administrative buildings if their demands are unmet. Raihan Ferdous, co-coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, argued that neither DU nor the students of the seven colleges support the affiliation.
Raihan also highlighted DU’s housing shortage, noting that while 53% of DU students are female, there are only five female dormitories, leading to overcrowding. "New buildings for affiliated colleges seem prioritized over student housing needs," he said.
Nusrat Imroz, a DU resident student, shared her experience of spending two years in an overcrowded "Ghonoroom" before securing a proper dorm seat. She questioned how the administration could fund new buildings for the affiliated colleges without addressing on-campus housing demands.
Following the protest, DU authorities began urgent consultations with government officials, while the government has agreed to a high-level meeting with the concerned students and stakeholders, likely scheduled for Sunday.
