Students of the Residential Model School & College staged a road blockade at Dhaka’s Asad Gate area, demanding admission based on merit evaluation instead of the existing lottery-based process.
The protest led to the suspension of vehicular traffic on Mirpur Road.
The demonstration, which began at 10am on Sunday (17 November) opposite Ganabhaban, saw the students demanding the reintroduction of merit-based entry tests. They alleged that despite providing an ultimatum to the authorities, no measures were taken to address their concerns, prompting them to proceed with the announced protest.
According to the protesting students, a delegation has been stationed at the Secretariat with hopes of a satisfactory resolution to their demands.
Speaking to reporters, the demonstrators noted that since its establishment in 1960, the institution had adhered to a tradition of selecting students through competitive examinations.
However, during the COVID-19 period, this system was replaced by a lottery-based admission process. As a result, many capable students have been denied entry into the institution.
The students emphasised the need for reinstating the merit-based selection system, arguing that admissions must once again be conducted through exams or other means of merit evaluation.
Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ali Iftekhar Hasan confirmed the ongoing road occupation by the protesting students.
“We are trying to reason with them, and additional forces have been deployed. Discussions are underway with relevant authorities to address their demands,” he stated.
Law enforcement officials had been negotiating with the students for approximately one and a half hours, and later the protesting students withdrew.
