“Today, blockades at three key junctions in Dhaka.”

Today, Wednesday, students affiliated with the Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement are staging a series of coordinated demonstrations at three prominent locations in Dhaka, urging the government to expedite the establishment of the proposed Dhaka Central University. The protests are set to commence at 11:00 a.m. at Science Lab, Technical Crossing, and Tantibazar Crossing, drawing attention from city residents and the media alike.

In a press release issued yesterday, the movement reiterated its central demand: the Advisory Council meeting, scheduled for 15 January, must approve the draft amendment to the Dhaka Central University Ordinance, followed promptly by the issuance of the final presidential ordinance. The release cautioned that failure to meet this timeline would prompt continued and intensified demonstrations.

The draft legislation, titled the “Dhaka Central University Act 2025,” was collaboratively prepared by the seven colleges and initially published on the Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division website on 24 September 2025. Its unveiling triggered vigorous discussions among educators, policymakers, and student groups. In response, the Ministry conducted a series of consultation meetings with all stakeholders, incorporating their feedback to revise and refine the draft accordingly.

The momentum of student activism has been building steadily. Between 7 and 8 December 2025, protesting students conducted continuous sit-in demonstrations outside the Ministry of Education. During this period, officials engaged with the students directly, assuring them that all administrative formalities would be completed by the end of December and that the final ordinance would be issued in early January.

With the Advisory Council meeting looming on 15 January, students are pressing for the official approval of the Dhaka Central University Act 2025 and the immediate release of the presidential ordinance. The movement has stressed that all demonstrations will remain peaceful, focused solely on holding the government to its prior commitments and ensuring the timely creation of the new university.

Observers note that the establishment of Dhaka Central University represents a historic milestone in Bangladesh’s higher education sector, potentially transforming the academic landscape of the capital and providing new opportunities for thousands of students.

Protest Schedule and Locations

The demonstrations are being closely watched by academics, policymakers, and civic organisations, with many considering the movement’s efforts pivotal in shaping the future of tertiary education in Dhaka.