Students rejoice as govt okays ordinance to establish Dhaka Central University

The Advisory Council has approved an ordinance to establish Dhaka Central University by amalgamating seven government colleges in the capital.

Education Adviser Prof Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar personally conveyed the news to students over the phone this afternoon, said Abdur Rahman, a key coordinator of the movement and a master's student of Political Science at Dhaka College.

"Our one-and-a-half-year-long movement has finally succeeded," Abdur Rahman said. "The education adviser himself called me to inform that the ordinance for Dhaka Central University has been approved by the advisory council."

As the news reached protesting students around 2pm at Dhaka College, they celebrated, chanting slogans in support of Dhaka Central University.

Students of the seven government colleges had long been demanding the establishment of a separate and autonomous university. The crisis involving the colleges dates back to 2017, when they were affiliated with the University of Dhaka without adequate preparation.

The seven colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College, Shahid Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Bangla College and Titumir College.

On 19 January, students of the seven colleges began erecting "ordinance stages" (Adhyadesh Mancha) in front of several campuses to press for the immediate issuance of the ordinance. Timber and bamboo platforms were set up near the main gates of Dhaka College and Government Bangla College, among others.

The protesters had earlier issued a warning to the interim government regarding the progress of the proposed ordinance. Abdur Rahman had said that if any "negative updates" emerged by 21 January, students would march to the State Guest House Jamuna, the chief adviser's official residence.

He also announced that, in the event of a positive outcome, students from all protest stages would gather at the Science Laboratory intersection on 22 January for a grand celebratory procession through the capital.

Last week, students of the seven colleges blocked the Science Lab, Technical and other major intersections in Dhaka, demanding swift approval of the updated draft ordinance for Dhaka Central University.

Colleges to retain identity under new framework

According to the draft ordinance, the main objective is to bring the seven government colleges under a single academic framework to improve the quality of higher education and resolve long-standing administrative complexities.

Under the ordinance, the seven colleges will operate as affiliated colleges under Dhaka Central University. While they will come under a single academic and administrative framework, the colleges will retain their individual identities, infrastructure, and ownership of movable and immovable assets.

Governance, academic structure outlined

The ordinance provides for a full administrative structure for the new university, including a chancellor, vice-chancellor, senate, syndicate and academic council.

The president will serve as chancellor, while the vice-chancellor will be appointed from a senate-nominated panel. The University Grants Commission will oversee academic, examination, research and administrative activities.

Academically, separate schools will be formed in disciplines including arts, science, social sciences, business studies, law and fine arts. Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, examinations and evaluations at the affiliated colleges will follow a unified academic calendar and a single assessment framework.

Admissions will be based on SSC and HSC results along with a central admission test. The ordinance also provides for centrally run MPhil and PhD programmes, teacher development initiatives and advanced training.

University operations to begin in rented buildings

Until a permanent campus is established, the academic and administrative activities of Dhaka Central University will initially operate from rented buildings, according to officials of the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

Md Mahbubul Hoque Patwary, additional secretary (planning) of the division, told The Business Standard that preparations are underway to start operations.

"Until the university gets its own buildings or campus, activities will continue in rented premises. Necessary manpower will also be recruited in line with the university law," he said.

Initial funding will come from a project under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, while a separate budgetary allocation will be made later, he added.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division is giving top priority to establishing and running the university, with all relevant departments working in coordination, Patwary said.