Students Warn of Stern Protests if Demands Not Met by 4 PM
Students from the seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University have issued a strong warning of intensified protests if their demands, including the resignation of Dhaka University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of New Market Police Station, are not fulfilled by 4 pm today.
The ultimatum was announced during a press conference held at Dhaka College at 11:45 am on Monday (January 27). Speaking at the event, Dhaka College student Md Shafiq Uddin and Eden Mohila College student Sumaiya Akter emphasized that failure to meet their demands would result in stricter protest programs by the students of the affiliated colleges.
The students are demanding the resignation of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, citing allegations of dismissive and rude behavior when they approached him about key issues, including reduced admission quotas. They also called for the removal of the Officer-in-Charge of New Market Police Station. The students alleged that despite submitting a memorandum 21 days ago outlining their concerns, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor not only ignored it but claimed he was unaware of any issues affecting the affiliated colleges.
Tensions have been high since Sunday (January 26), when more than 300 students from the seven colleges blocked the Science Lab intersection for over four hours, demanding action on a five-point charter. Later that night, they marched to Dhaka University and staged a sit-in at the Nilkhet intersection near the DU Liberation and Democracy Arch. This prompted hundreds of DU students to confront them, leading to clashes. The confrontation escalated into violent chases between the groups, resulting in injuries to at least 40 students.
In response to the unrest, all final exams for the seven colleges, as well as all classes and exams at Dhaka University, were suspended on Monday. The protesting students have vowed to escalate their demonstrations if the authorities fail to meet their demands by the 4 pm deadline.
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