Online Desk: A section of students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges blocked the Mirpur Road at Nilkhet intersection in the capital today, demanding that the DU authorities lower the minimum CGPA requirement for promotion to the next academic year. They occupied the street around noon, halting movement of the vehicles on the Mirpur Road between Science Lab and New Market intersections, and on Azimpur Road, said Shafiqul Islam Shabu, officer-in-charge of New Market Police Station.

Seven of the students became sick during the demonstration and were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Two of them had consumed hand sanitiser, said Md Alauddin, resident doctor at the DMCH. They are now out of danger, he added. The other five were given primary treatment.

On August 16 and 22, the students blockaded the Mirpur Road with the same demand. “We request the students to withdraw the blockade. We told them that these areas are very busy, but they did not pay heed to us,” OC Shafiqul said.

Wishing anonymity, a final-year student, who was not promoted, at Titumir College, said, “The authorities have published our results after nine months of examinations, while we already have lost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” “We had no option but to take to the streets. We have urged the authorities to ease the existing minimum CGPA requirements,” he added.

According to the university’s current criteria, first-year students under social sciences and business faculties must attain a minimum CGPA of 2.00 to be promoted to the second year, second-year students require 2.25, and third-year students require 2.50.