Students of Government Titumir College declared an indefinite shutdown of the institution from 10am on Monday (3 February) as part of their ongoing demonstration demanding university status.
They also announced a continuous barricade programme from 11am to 10pm on the same day.
The decision was formally announced at a press conference in front of the college’s main gate at 11pm on Sunday (2 February).
Earlier that evening, the protesting students had blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for nearly two hours but lifted the blockade after 8pm, returning to the campus in a procession.
The fresh escalation follows remarks made by Education Adviser Professor Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, who stated that granting special privileges to Titumir College was not feasible.
Enraged by this statement, students initiated the "Barasat Barricade to North City" protest from 6pm.
They also expressed disappointment over the adviser's comment labelling their demands as unjustified, calling it "unexpected and deeply regrettable." The students reiterated their stance, declaring they would not return to classes without a resolution.
The movement began on 28 January at 5pm when students launched a hunger strike with a seven-point demand.
More students joined the strike the following day, and by the afternoon of 29 January, they had escalated their protest into a mass hunger strike.
That same day, demonstrators blocked both sides of the Gulshan-Mohakhali road with bamboo barricades.
On 30 January night, the students officially announced the "Barasat Barricade to North City" programme, which commenced at 4pm on Saturday (1 February).
As part of this initiative, they occupied the Gulshan-1 intersection, staging multiple demonstrations.
With tensions mounting, the indefinite shutdown signals an uncompromising phase of the movement, as students remain resolute in their demand for university status.
