7 DU-affiliated college students announce class, exam boycott  on Sunday, Monday

Students of seven Dhaka University (DU) affiliated colleges on Saturday announced to boycott classes and examinations for Sunday and Monday to realise their demand for formation of a commission that would outline establishment of an autonomous university for the institutions.

Besides, the students announced to stage demonstrations on their respective campuses.
Announcing the protest programmes at a press conference on Dhaka College campus, the agitating students threatened tougher movement if their demands were not met by Monday.

Reading out from a written statement, Kabi Nazrul Govt College student Jakaria Bari demanded a commission to facilitate the establishment of a separate university and inclusion of student representatives in the commission.

"We have rejected the committee formed by the Education Ministry and recent statements of Chief Adviser's Press Secretary on separate administrative facilities for the seven colleges affiliated to DU," said Jakaria.

On October 31, a delegation of the seven colleges met Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud.

"In the meeting the two advisers wanted to know about our demands and movement. Then they proposed to run our seven colleges in separate administrative buildings on DU campus. But we want separate university," said Jakaria, noting that the meeting yielded no results.

He added, "After the meeting with the advisers, we got the news that CA Press Secretary said in a press conference that seven colleges will remain affiliated to DU. But there will be a separate system for them, where their matter will be dealt with separately."

"Our protests will continue until our demands are accepted and we will prevent any kind of conspiracy against the seven colleges," he said, demanding withdrawal of Press Secretary's statements.

Students of seven colleges - Dhaka College, Begum Badrunnesa Govt Girls' College, Eden Mahila College, Govt Bangla College, Govt Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Govt Titumir College, and Kabi Nazrul Government College- attended the press conference.

However, the Education Ministry on October 24 formed a 13-member committee to address the seven college issue and recommend probable solutions to it.

Rejecting the committee, the students blocked major city roads on October 29 and 30 causing sufferings to city dwellers.