Democratic Student Council, a student organization formed with the leaders and activists of various left-leaning student organizations, on Thursday demonstrated on Dhaka University campus demanding release of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuddin Shams. They brought out a protest procession from the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University around 12.30 pm which ended at Raju Sculpture and then they held a rally on its premises around 12.45 pm. Their other demands include abolishing the DSA act, stopping extra judicial killings, justice for Sultana Jesmin who died allegedly under RAB custody. Dilip Roy, general secretary of Biplopi Chhatra Maitri, said, “The journalist was picked up in the early morning when people were sleeping. We have to move against this fascist government. Our promise is that we will fight with our last drop of blood against the fascist government that wants to suppress our voices.” Mitu Sarkar, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, said, “The act of abducting people and preventing the protesting voices by using DSA and detaining them in civil dress are the clear sign of a fascist government. We all have to stand against such activities.” Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, working in Savar near the capital Dhaka, was picked up from his house in Ambagan area near Jahangirnagar University in the early hours of Wednesday morning by the CID allegedly for publishing a fake and fabricated news. Later he was sued under DSA on the same day and a Dhaka court sent him jail on Thursday rejecting his bail plea.

The teachers and students of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday demanded reopening residential halls, resuming classes and taking exams immediately maintaining health guidelines. Terming the ongoing closure of educational institutions 'illogical', around 100 students and teachers under the banner of "Hall and educational institutions open movement" formed a human chain at the base of Raju Memorial sculpture on the campus. Addressing the rally, Dr Md Asif Nazrul, Professor and Chairman of Law department, said, "If garments, shopping malls and vehicles can operate following health guidelines, why will the educational institutions remain closed? All educational institutions must be reopened by maintaining health protocols." Read COVID-19 causes biggest disruption of education system in history. "Affluent persons' children have sufficient means to learn from home but most students can't even manage a digital device or proper network to continue academic activities," he said. Dr Abu Musa Md Arif Billah, Associate Professor of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, said, "The education minister changes her decision over and over, and the university authorities comply with her."  Nusrat Tabassum, a DU student of the political science department, said, "All of the students have become frustrated because of a long gap both from studies and campus environment. Most DU students were dependent on tuition, but now they are fighting to survive." Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on June 13: Dipu Moni "We hope that the authorities will soon consider reopening campuses and residential halls," she said. Moyajjem, a biochemistry student, said, "The education ministry has failed to create an effective policy during the pandemic situation. We hope the ministry will reopen our campus immediately." "We will continue our protest until the authorities concerned announce to reopen halls and the campus," he said. Read No assignments for secondary school students Later, the protesters brought out a procession and marched towards the vice-chancellor's residence.

Elections to both the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will now be held on February 1 instead of January 30.