Students of Govt. Titumir College in Dhaka has once again blocked roads, demanding the institution be upgraded to a full-fledged university. The protest follows an ongoing hunger strike and previous warnings to authorities.
On Saturday at 4:30 PM, as part of their pre-announced program, students blocked the Mohakhali-Gulshan road using bamboo, halting traffic on both sides. Vehicles were forced to take alternative routes.
Protest leader Nayek Noor Mohammad told Liberty News that they had set a 4 PM deadline for the government to declare Titumir College a university. Failing that, they vowed to escalate protests, including blocking Mohakhali, Gulshan, and even Airport Road.
In response, the Ministry of Education issued a statement saying that “setting deadlines for university status is not logical.” The statement clarified that a specialist committee is working on the feasibility of turning Dhaka’s seven historic colleges, including Titumir, into a separate university. However, students claim the committee is not making real progress.
After the roadblock, over 100 students marched through Mahakhali Railgate, Amtoli, and Gulshan-1 before returning to campus to continue their protest.
Titumir College students have been demonstrating for months under the banner of “Titumir Unity”, pressing for seven key demands:
✅ Official university recognition & academic calendar
✅ Administration formation & admission for 2024-25
✅ Full residential facilities or compensation for hostel expenses
✅ Introduction of Law and Journalism departments
✅ Recruitment of qualified PhD faculty
✅ Limiting student intake to maintain quality
✅ Funding for international-standard research facilities
The movement gained momentum when students placed a “Titumir University” banner on the campus gate on January 7. On November 18, they staged road blockades in Mohakhali’s Amtoli, Kachabazar, and Rail Crossing. Following that, on December 3, the Education Ministry formed a five-member committee to assess the transition to university status. However, students argue that the committee lacks urgency.
With no resolution in sight, Titumir students have vowed to intensify their protests until their demand is met.
LND/BAIZID
