HSC and honours students hold counter programmes over Dhaka Central University

Higher secondary and honours-level students are holding opposing programmes over the proposed Dhaka Central University.

On one side, HSC students from five colleges are protesting against the draft ordinance and the ministry’s press release based on the university’s “schooling model”. On the other, honours students from the seven colleges marched towards the Education Building demanding immediate issuance of the ordinance.

On Sunday (7 December), HSC students from Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls’ College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Suhrawardy College, Mirpur Bangla College and Dhaka College gathered at the Dhaka College Shaheed Minar from 10 am and staged demonstrations.

At 11 am, honours students began their march towards the Education Building.

Sources said the HSC students from the five colleges plan to hold an unannounced sit-in and protest at the Education Building today, following the seven colleges’ pre-announced programme.

Concerned quarters warned that the counter-programmes by the two groups around the Education Building could create tension.

Tension has also risen among students after a leaked Zoom call recording of the BCS General Education Association in which Dhaka College teacher Rafiqul Alam reportedly spoke of a plan to “use students to create mobs” to realise teachers’ demands.

The organising wing of the Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement said the march and sit-in are part of their pre-announced programme. The details were shared in a press release on Saturday (6 December).

Protesters said prolonged debates have taken place over the draft “Dhaka Central University Act-2025” prepared to implement the proposed university comprising the seven colleges.

The Education Ministry collected opinions from all stakeholders online from 24 September to 9 October. Three meetings were subsequently held on 20 and 21 October and on 17 November with teachers, students, alumni and civil society representatives.

Students, however, said the ordinance has still not been issued. As a result, nearly 150,000 students currently studying in various academic sessions, including the 2024-25 batch admitted to the proposed university, are facing identity crisis and academic uncertainty.