Public life in the capital was significantly disrupted on Wednesday when thousands of students from the seven government colleges staged a road blockade outside Dhaka College. Their protest, organised to demand the immediate gazette of the Dhaka Central University Act 2025, brought Mirpur Road to a standstill and triggered heavy congestion across several adjacent areas.
The incident unfolded early in the morning, as groups of students began gathering near Dhaka College to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s perceived inaction. Many of them carried banners, megaphones and handwritten signs stressing the urgency of their demand. By 9 a.m., the crowd had grown large enough to halt vehicular movement entirely.
Following a brief gathering, the students launched a procession from the college campus. They marched through Azimpur, chanting slogans and calling for swift government intervention. Upon returning to Dhaka College, they positioned themselves across the width of Mirpur Road, effectively closing it to all traffic.
The blockade triggered immediate disruption. Long queues of buses, private cars, motorcycles and rickshaws stretched from Science Lab to Nilkhet. New Market’s busy commercial zone became clogged with gridlocked vehicles, while commuters attempting to reach offices, universities and hospitals were forced to walk long distances in the heat. Parents escorting schoolchildren struggled to navigate the congestion, and pedestrians expressed mounting frustration as the disruption continued.
Students participating in the protest said they had been compelled to take this drastic step. According to them, discussions with the Ministry of Education, held on three separate occasions, had failed to produce any concrete commitment regarding the legal establishment of Dhaka Central University. They argued that without a properly issued ordinance, the academic structure of the seven colleges remains unstable.
One student spokesperson stated, “Nearly one and a half lakh students are suffering because of this delay. Our exam schedules are uncertain, our degree timelines are uncertain, and our job prospects are at risk. How long are we supposed to wait?”
The demand for Dhaka Central University stems from long-standing administrative challenges. Students claim that under the present affiliation system, exam routines are delayed, results are published late and academic sessions are frequently disrupted. The creation of a separate university is viewed as a solution that would allow for more efficient management, quicker decision-making and improved academic transparency.
As the hours passed, police and education ministry officials attempted to negotiate with the demonstrators. However, the students remained firm in their position. They declared that they would not withdraw from the road unless the ordinance was formally approved and publicly announced.
Although the blockade caused widespread inconvenience, many bystanders expressed understanding. Some commuters voiced support for the students’ cause, acknowledging that prolonged academic uncertainty could jeopardise their lives and careers. Nevertheless, shopkeepers in New Market and transport workers complained of economic losses caused by the cessation of traffic flow.
By midday, the protest showed no sign of ending. The student leaders reiterated that the movement would continue indefinitely unless the government acted decisively. Their call remained unwavering: the final gazette of the Dhaka Central University Act 2025 must be issued without delay.