Students of Dhaka Residential School and College in Dhaka blocked Mirpur Road on Sunday (November 17) after 10 a.m., demanding merit-based admissions instead of the lottery system. The protest caused heavy traffic congestion on both sides of Mirpur Road near Ganabhaban at Asad Gate.

The students claimed the long-standing lottery-based admission system deprives many deserving and meritorious students of the opportunity to study at the college. They demanded the system be replaced with admissions based on merit or examinations. The protesting students warned they would not leave the road until their demands were met.

According to police, the students broke through the college gate and took to the streets. Efforts are underway to calm the situation, said Ali Iftekhar Hasan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur Model Police Station. Earlier in the morning, the college authorities held multiple discussions with the students and urged them to refrain from protests, but the students ignored these requests and began their demonstration.