HSC students of five public colleges block Shahbagh intersection

Students of five public colleges in Dhaka blocked the Shahbagh intersection on Sunday, alleging that a draft ordinance for a new “Dhaka Central University” based on a schooling model has created uncertainty over the future of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) education.

The blockade began around 11:30am after students marched from their respective campuses and occupied the intersection, bringing traffic to a standstill.

According to reports, students of Dhaka College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Shaheed Suhrawardy Government College and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College held demonstrations on their campuses from the morning before jointly marching towards Shahbagh.

The protesters demanded cancellation of the proposed schooling model and preservation of the independent structure of the HSC level.

Naeem Islam, a student of Dhaka College, said the implementation of the schooling model would eliminate the existence of HSC programmes in the five colleges. “We have protested before, and we are protesting again today. We will continue until the government withdraws this model,” he added.

Meanwhile, students of all seven public colleges are set to resume their movement today to press for the issuance of the proposed ordinance establishing the ‘Dhaka Central University’. They plan a march towards the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education followed by a sit-in programme.