Academic activities suspended and students ordered to vacate dormitories as authorities respond to unrest over campus safety concerns. 

Dhaka, June 21 – Dhaka Medical College (DMC), one of the country’s leading medical institutions, has been closed for an indefinite period following weeks of student protests over the deteriorating condition of its residential and academic buildings. In a sudden move, the college authority also ordered all students to vacate their hostels by 12 PM on Sunday, June 22.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Academic Council held on Saturday. A formal notice signed by the principal of the college, Professor Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam, confirmed the closure and outlined the immediate evacuation directive for students.

The notice stated that due to the unresolved crisis at the college and the ongoing unrest, all MBBS academic activities would be suspended until further notice. However, it clarified that foreign students and those appearing in the professional MBBS examinations of the university would be exempted from this decision.

The sudden shutdown comes amid rising tensions on campus as students have been demonstrating for several weeks, demanding urgent attention to the unsafe and deteriorating condition of dormitories and academic facilities. Their grievances have centered on what they describe as life-threatening structural vulnerabilities in multiple buildings, raising fears of a potential accident or collapse.

On Friday, June 20, students escalated their protest by submitting a memorandum outlining a five-point demand to the administration. They also staged a sit-in at the college’s central gathering point, Milon Chattar, calling for immediate steps to ensure safety, initiate repairs, and improve overall infrastructure.

The situation had reached a boiling point over the past few days, with many students claiming that their repeated complaints had been ignored or delayed. They also criticized what they perceived as the administration’s lack of transparency and commitment to student welfare. The frustration eventually culminated in campus-wide mobilization, drawing attention from across the academic community and beyond.

While the administration cited the shutdown as a necessary measure to resolve the current “deadlock,” student leaders and protesters have expressed disappointment at what they see as a reactionary and punitive step. According to several student representatives, closing the college does not address the root causes of the unrest and only shifts the burden onto students who have already endured unsafe living conditions.

Many students are also expressing concern over the forced hostel eviction, pointing out that such a directive, especially with limited notice, places additional pressure on those who have no alternative accommodation. The short timeline to vacate the dormitories has raised logistical challenges, particularly for students coming from distant regions or low-income backgrounds.

Some students have taken to social media to share photos and videos of cracked walls, broken ceilings, and flooded hallways inside the hostel buildings, which they claim reflect the daily risks they have been living under. Calls for reform and renovation have been echoed by alumni and civil society groups who are now urging the government to take swift action to rehabilitate the facilities before any further tragedy occurs.

Despite the closure, university officials emphasized that professional examinations would proceed as planned and that necessary arrangements would be made to support students participating in those exams. Foreign students residing on campus have also been assured that they will not be forced to leave.

The crisis at Dhaka Medical College has now drawn national attention, with education advocates and medical professionals calling for greater investment in student housing and academic infrastructure across the country. Many are criticizing the broader negligence within public institutions, pointing to DMC as a reflection of systemic issues that need immediate redress.

In the meantime, DMC’s academic future remains uncertain. While the administration has stated its intention to resolve the situation promptly, no specific timeline has been provided for when classes might resume or when repair work will begin. For the students, particularly those in the middle of their studies or preparing for critical examinations, the shutdown represents not only disruption but also anxiety over academic progression.

As one of Bangladesh’s oldest and most prestigious medical colleges, Dhaka Medical College serves thousands of students and plays a crucial role in the country’s healthcare system. The prolonged closure could have far-reaching effects, not only on education but also on medical training and services that rely on the institution.

For now, students and parents await further clarification from the authorities, while questions continue to mount over how and why the situation was allowed to deteriorate to this point—and whether long-term solutions will finally be implemented.