Students from the capital’s Seven Colleges have called a mass gathering at the Science Lab intersection on Monday, January 19, at 11:00 a.m., pressing a single demand: immediate promulgation of the “Dhaka Central University” ordinance. Organizers say an “ordinance stage” will be set up at the venue, from which they will announce next steps for the movement.
In a late-night statement on Friday, movement representative Md. Nayeem Howlader, a Statistics student at Dhaka College, said the campaign seeks swift issuance of the final ordinance after months of consultations. A draft of the Dhaka Central University Act-2025 was posted on the Secondary and Higher Education Division website on September 24, prompting stakeholder meetings and revisions, he noted. During sit-in demonstrations toward the Education Ministry on December 7–8, students say they were assured ancillary work would be completed by end-December and the ordinance issued in early January; they argue that commitment remains unmet.
Ahead of Monday’s program, organizers urged all students of the proposed Dhaka Central University (the seven colleges) to mobilize, adding that the rally follows road blockades at Science Lab, Technical, and Tantibazar on January 14–15. They also apologized to city residents for any temporary disruption, saying the goal is to end “guardian-less” academic uncertainty and improve educational standards so students can return to classrooms promptly. Authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the latest announcement.