DU students are demanding cancellation of affiliation of seven colleges

A group of students from Dhaka University held a protest rally in front of the Vice Chancellor’s residence today (November 1) around 4 pm, demanding cancellation of affiliation of seven colleges and construction of a new hall for female students.

The demonstrators emphasized that both the university and the students of the affiliated colleges do not support the connection.

They issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the university administration, warning of escalating actions – including class and exam boycotts and the lockdown of administrative buildings – if their demands were not met.

Raihan Ferdous, co-coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said students from both the University of Dhaka and the seven colleges want the removal of the band.

He also noted that 53% of Dhaka University students are women, but they have only five residence halls.

He wondered how new administrative buildings can be constructed for the seven colleges if there is insufficient accommodation for students of the University of Dhaka.

He added that the University of Dhaka is an autonomous institution and any decision in this regard should be taken by the university administration and the students. He insisted that they do not accept the affiliation of the seven colleges.

Nusrat Imroz, a student from Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hall of Dhaka University, shared her experience of living in a Gonoroom for two years before she finally got a valid seat.

She said that a number of master’s students still live in Gonorooms.

The university authorities are unable to build a new student hall due to budgetary constraints, but how they could manage to build a new administrative building for the seven colleges, she wondered.

She stated that they urgently demand the cancellation of the affiliation of the seven colleges and that any new building constructed at Dhaka University should be for female students.

In response to the protest, Dhaka University authorities have initiated urgent talks with relevant advisors and senior government officials, prioritizing the issue.

Recognizing its public significance, the government has responded positively and agreed to hold an urgent ministerial-level meeting with concerned students and key stakeholders, likely next Sunday.