7-college students issue another ultimatum for pending demands

The students from seven affiliated colleges of Dhaka University have expressed gratitude to the government for promising the establishment of a university dedicated to the seven colleges.

However, they have demanded that university operations begin within a month and have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the fulfillment of their remaining demands.  

The announcement was made at a press conference held at Dhaka College Shaheed Minar on Tuesday evening. Zakaria Bari Sagar, a student of Kabi Nazrul College, read a written statement on behalf of the students.  

Speaking to journalists after the press conference, Abdur Rahman, the focal point of the Seven Colleges University Movement, emphasized the long-standing challenges faced by students under Dhaka University�s affiliation.  

"Students from the seven colleges have suffered immensely under Dhaka University, primarily due to an identity crisis. After a prolonged movement, the government has assured us of the formation of a university comprising the seven colleges. For that, we are thankful," said Abdur Rahman.  

However, he noted that only one of the six previously declared demands has been fulfilled, prompting students to issue a 24-hour ultimatum for the remaining demands. If unmet, they plan to announce further programs in consultation with stakeholders.  

Their demands include: the committee formed by the Ministry of Education must publish a framework for the university within 15 days. university operations must commence within a month through a presidential ordinance, all ongoing examinations across all years must continue as per the previously announced schedule, upon the establishment of the university, all current students must be incorporated under the new institution, a roundtable discussion involving student representatives, the Ministry of Education, the high-level expert committee, principals of the seven colleges, and other stakeholders must be arranged within two days to resolve the ongoing crisis.  

Zakaria Bari Sagar highlighted that students have been protesting for the cancellation of Dhaka University affiliation since September 2024. He stated that the purpose of the initial affiliation in 2017�to improve educational standards�has not been achieved. Instead, it has created further challenges for students.  

"Over the years, various movements have been organized, initially aimed at reforms. However, our recent movement, starting last September, is for ultimate liberation," said Sagar.  

The interim government responded by forming a high-level expert committee under the University Grants Commission (UGC) on December 31, 2024. According to Sagar, the committee has been actively engaging with stakeholders, including student representatives, college principals, and Dhaka University officials, to draft a framework for the new university.  

The students reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the movement until all demands are met and university operations commence.