Students block Nilkhet intersection for second consecutive day
Several hundreds of students of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University have blocked the Nilkhet intersection in the capital for the second consecutive day, on Wednesday, protesting against the decision to postpone their exams.
The students took position at the Nilkhet intersection around 9:00am today demanding opening the campus, residential halls and taking ongoing exams as per the routine. Traffic movement has come to a halt on New Market-Azimpur road.
The protesting students have spread up to Science Lab intersection.
Earlier, the Dhaka University authorities on Tuesday announced to postpone all the ongoing exams including those of the seven colleges.
Following the announcement over a hundred students took position at the Nilkhet intersection from 8:00am last night. They left the area around 10:15pm but took to the streets again this morning.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Sazia Sultana, a student of Eden College said, “test of only one of the courses of fourth year is there to be held. This announcement has put us in an extremely uncertain situation.”
Student of political science department at Dhaka College Nahid Hossain said, “We are anxious. Authorities started taking third year Bachelor exams afterwards the scheduled time.”
Principals of the seven colleges have been holding a meeting over the situation. Earlier, around 12:30pm, focal person to oversee educational activities of the seven colleges IK Selim Ullah went to the protesting spot along with several teachers of Dhaka College and Eden Mohilla College. He told the students that a positive result would be taken in the meeting.
The students, however, did not stop demonstrations. Instead, they demanded a circular from the education ministry to this end.
A large number of police has been deployed in the area.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Dhaka University pro-vice chancellor (education) ASM Maksud Kamal held a meeting with principals of seven colleges affiliated with the university and three concerned people. He has been working as the chief coordinator of the seven colleges. The decision to postpone the exams was taken in the meeting.
Earlier, on Monday, addressing an online media conference, education minister Dipu Moni said that teaching at classrooms in the government, autonomous, and private universities will resume from 24 May. Residential halls will be opened on 17 May and no exams will be held before opening the campus. The decision to open dormitories and taking exams that a few universities took will also be cancelled. However, the online class will continue.
In February 2017, Dhaka College, Eden Mohilla College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls College, Government Bangla College, Mirpur and Government Titumir College were affiliated with the Dhaka University. The number of students in those colleges is around 200,000.