Students of Government Titumir College have taken to the streets once again, blocking Gulshan Link Road as part of their ongoing demand for the institution to be declared an independent university.
The blockade, enforced at 12:20pm on Monday (3 February), saw over fifty students obstructing the road by placing bamboo barricades, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides of the thoroughfare.
On-site observations revealed that six students have been staging a hunger strike at the college’s main gate for the past six days.
Their fellow protesters formed a human chain around them, chanting slogans in support of their demand for university recognition.
However, no law enforcement personnel were seen in the vicinity at the time.
The demonstrating students affirmed their resolve, stating that they would continue their agitation until their demands were met.
"We will not allow any vehicles to pass except ambulances and emergency patient transport. For now, we have blocked Gulshan Link Road, but we will extend our blockade to other key locations soon," they declared.
On Sunday night, the students had announced their plan to enforce continuous blockades from 11am to 10pm on Monday.
Their protest sites include major intersections such as the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway at Mohakhali, the railway gate, Amtoli junction, and Gulshan Link Road.
Addressing a press conference, Mahmudul Hasan Mukta, adviser to Titumir Oikko, accused the authorities of double standards.
"We announced today’s blockade in advance. Yet, out of consideration for the ongoing Bishwa Ijtema, we temporarily relaxed our protest from 11 am. However, starting tomorrow, we will enforce an uninterrupted blockade from 11am to 10pm, covering Mohakhali, the railway gate, Amtoli, and Gulshan Link Road. This time, there will be no exemptions," he stated.
Mukta further expressed his disappointment, saying, "We had hoped for a student-friendly state, one that would prioritise our concerns. Many are frustrated with our protests, and to them, we apologise. But we are also your children, and the state is being unjust to us."
The students reiterated their three-point demand:
Official recognition: Titumir College must be granted state recognition as an independent university, complete with an academic calendar.
Higher education standards: The government must withdraw the education advisor’s statement and ensure international-standard higher education across all institutions, granting institutional accreditation based on merit.
Accountability: A thorough investigation must be conducted into allegations of undue pressure exerted by the legal advisor on the education ministry regarding the formation of the Titumir University Commission, and the advisor must publicly apologise for obstructing state functions.
Students of Titumir College have been demonstrating for months, staging rallies, blocking roads and railways, submitting memoranda, and boycotting classes to press their demand.
In response, the education ministry had formed a special committee to assess the feasibility of upgrading the college to a university.
However, with no tangible progress in sight, students escalated their protest last Wednesday by launching an indefinite hunger strike.
