Govt inaction on DCU Ordinance puts public into sufferings

The interim government's delay in promulgating the long-promised ordinance for Dhaka Central University (DCU) has sparked widespread public inconvenience, as student blocked streets in the capital for the second day on Thursday demanding government gazette notification. Citizens are facing mounting difficulties, while students of seven government colleges continue to press for immediate action by the government.

Experts and observers warn that such administrative inertia fuels confrontational street politics, turning protests into the only effective way for citizens to demand government accountability. 

According to Professor Anu Muhammad, "A systematic discussion or debate on any problem, any demand, or an exchange of views with the government has not been well established in Bangladesh. Once issues reach the streets, however, they become headlines and attract government attention." Reflecting this growing frustration, students from seven government colleges intensified their blockade on Thursday. Around 12:30 pm, a procession started from Dhaka College, and by 12:40 pm protesters had occupied the Science Lab intersection, halting traffic and daily activities. Participants included students from Dhaka College, Eden Women's College, Begum Badrunnesa Women's College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Titumir College.
During the blockade, a bus carrying students from Dhaka University's Leather Institute was stopped by the protesters at around 1:30 pm, leading to a heated argument. Although the bus was later allowed to pass, it was damaged in the process.

Dhaka College student Ziaur Rahman, speaking on behalf of the seven colleges, warned of a "March to Jamuna" programme if their demands were not addressed. "The interim government has treated us fraudulently," he said, citing prolonged administrative delays and policy ambiguity regarding the future of the colleges.

The Ministry of Education, responding to the unrest, said the draft of the revised DCU ordinance is under consideration. The draft, incorporating decisions from an inter-ministerial meeting, was sent to the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday. The ordinance, aimed at ensuring administrative excellence and meeting students' needs, will be placed before the Advisory Council for final approval after principled consent from the Cabinet Division and vetting by the Legislative Division. The ministry urged students to remain patient and not be misled by rumours. The seven colleges, long affiliated with Dhaka University, have faced persistent academic and administrative challenges since 2017. In January 2025, the government announced that the colleges would be separated from DU. 

However, the affiliation was cancelled before a new university could be established. While the latest proposal suggests affiliation with a new autonomous university similar to the National University model, students insist on a formal announcement through a legally binding ordinance.

The ongoing protests, however, appear to challenge the interim government's earlier directive issued on December 9, 2025, by the Office of the Chief Adviser, which called on citizens to "refrain from holding all kinds of illegal and unauthorized public gatherings and movements after the announcement of the schedule."  The government had warned that from the declaration of the election timetable until polling day, any illegal assemblies causing public suffering would be "strictly controlled," and those involved would be "brought under the law."

Despite these warnings, the student movement has continued, with critics arguing that the authorities have failed to enforce their own directives.