Students are holding a protest program demanding the immediate promulgation of the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance covering seven government colleges in the capital.

They started gathering at Dhaka College from Wednesday (August 6) morning with this demand. Later, a protest procession started from the main gate of Dhaka College around 11 am. The program is being held to express anger that the ordinance has not yet been issued despite the state activities being carried out under the name of 'Dhaka Central University'.

It is learnt that 180 to 200 students gathered at the main gate of Dhaka College from 10 am onwards. The procession started from inside the college at around 11 am. The procession turned around Science Lab intersection and passed through Nilkhet and stayed for some time on the road in front of Eden Women's College. Later, it passed through Nilkhet again and came to the main gate of Dhaka College and the program is scheduled to end with a press conference.

Those concerned say that preparations for this program demanding the publication of the ordinance have been underway for a few days. A campaign was going on on the campus, including postering and putting up banners. Students say that the structure under which they studied for a long time called 'Seven Colleges' was a humiliating experience for them. They feel that the word 'affiliation' has become a symbol of discrimination and lack of identity.

Atiqul Islam, a student of Dhaka College, said that despite the announcement of the formation of a new university in the name of Dhaka Central University, there is a delay in the issue of the ordinance. The students want the ordinance to be issued quickly and ensure the fulfillment of their educational life through a new identity.

Abdur Rahman, one of the organizers of the movement and focal person of the Seven Colleges and Universities Transformation Team, said, "We have repeatedly said that we will not accept any conspiracy by the education syndicate. We have been agitating for a long time demanding an independent identity. Now it is time to reap the fruits of that struggle."

He further said that when the government has started the work of formulating an ordinance, it must be implemented within the stipulated time. No more uncertainty should be imposed on students.

On the other hand, the protesters expressed concern that the process of implementing the ordinance will be completed in five stages. In this, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will prepare a draft, which will go to the Law Ministry. From there, it will be revised, returned to the UGC, and sent to the Advisory Council through the Education Ministry. Finally, it will be published in the form of a gazette with the approval of the President. Students fear that this long process may waste time - especially at the stages of the Law Ministry and the Education Ministry.

They believe that even though bureaucratic complications are not yet visible, the slow administrative structure could delay the ordinance's implementation. Therefore, they have taken to the streets demanding the ordinance be published within a reasonable time frame.

Incidentally, on March 26 this year, the government announced the formation of a new university by separating seven government colleges in the capital. The University Grants Commission has decided on the proposed name 'Dhaka Central University'. The colleges are - Dhaka College, Eden Women's College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Shahid Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Mirpur Bangla College and Government Titumir College.