Disagreement over formation of new university in seven colleges: Students take to the field

Tensions have again surfaced over the initiative to form a university in seven government colleges in Dhaka. On Thursday (September 18), students protested at Dhaka College campus in Dhaka demanding a university. On the other hand, a section of higher secondary students of Dhaka College also protested on the same day demanding that the college remain intact. As a result, the issue has now become a three-pronged situation - students agitating in favor of making it a university, teachers opposing the proposed structure, and higher secondary students demanding that the college remain intact.

The students leading the movement demanding a university have said that if a clear decision is not made by next Monday regarding the issuance of the proposed university ordinance, they will hold a bigger program. Abdur Rahman, a student of Dhaka College, said, "The time it will take to issue the ordinance should be announced by Monday. Otherwise, there may be a big program directed at the Ministry of Education."

The students participated in the protest by boycotting internal exams on that day. However, there were also incidents of taking part in exams in some departments.

On Wednesday (September 17), hundreds of teachers from seven colleges formed a human chain in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to oppose the proposed structure. They fear that if this structure is implemented, the educational activities of the colleges will be disrupted, student admission opportunities will decrease, and there will be complications with the posts and titles of teachers.

They also expressed their fear that women's education will be disrupted at Eden Women's College and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College. The teachers proposed that universities can be established on separate campuses for the seven colleges, but the colleges should be affiliated - in a structure like the national university. They have no objection even if the name is 'Dhaka Central University'.

A section of higher secondary students from Dhaka College raised slogans against the establishment of the university. They demand that the college should be kept intact. Due to this, two opposite programs were held on the same campus on the same day.

As per the government decision, a plan has been made to divide the seven colleges into four schools to conduct educational activities.

School of Science: Dhaka College, Eden Women's College, Begum Badrunnesa Women's College

School of Arts and Humanities: Government Bangla College

School of Business: Government Titumir College

School of Law and Justice: Kabi Nazrul College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College

According to the proposed structure, 40% of classes will be online and 60% of classes will be in person. However, all exams will be held live.

Seven colleges in Dhaka—Dhaka College, Eden Women's College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul College, Begum Badrunnesa Women's College, Government Bangla College and Titumir College—were once under the National University. In 2017, they were affiliated to Dhaka University. Later, after various complications and student movements, the government announced the establishment of a new university this year.

Dhaka College Principal Professor AKM Elias said that the Ministry of Education and UGC are working on the issue of establishing a university. His proposal is to re-open higher secondary education at Eden Women's College and Titumir College and establish a new university while keeping the positions of teachers intact.