Road Blockades at Three Key Points in Dhaka Cause Severe Traffic Disruption

Students demanding the transformation of seven government colleges into a full-fledged university blocked roads at three major intersections in the capital on Wednesday, triggering heavy traffic congestion and widespread public inconvenience.

Under the banner of the Seven Colleges University Transformation Movement, protesters shut down traffic at Science Lab, Technical, and Tantibazar intersections.

The Science Lab intersection was blocked around 1:00 PM, while the Technical intersection was obstructed at approximately 12:30 PM. The blockade at Tantibazar began slightly earlier, around 11:45 AM.

During the protests, students chanted slogans in support of their demands, including calls for the immediate issuance of a government ordinance.

As a result of the blockades, vehicle movement on the affected roads came to a complete halt. Long tailbacks formed, leaving commuters and drivers stuck in severe traffic jams and causing significant hardship.

The protest programme had been announced a day earlier through a press release issued by the movement. The students placed a single-point demand: approval of the updated draft ordinance for Dhaka Central University at the advisory council meeting scheduled for 15 January, followed by its final promulgation by the President.

According to the press statement, the draft law titled Dhaka Central University Act 2025—aimed at establishing a university by combining the seven colleges—was first published on the website of the Secondary and Higher Education Division on 24 September. The draft sparked extensive debate both for and against the proposal.

In response, the Ministry of Education reportedly held consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders and later revised the draft based on the feedback received.

The statement also noted that protesting students had previously staged continuous sit-ins in front of the Education Ministry from 7 to 8 December. During those demonstrations, ministry officials held talks with student representatives and assured them that all related procedures would be completed by December, with the ordinance to be issued in early January.

The students warned that if their demand is not fulfilled within the stated timeframe, their protest programmes will continue.