Students of 7 colleges threaten long march towards edu ministry on 25 Sept if Dhaka Central University ordinance delayed
A vested quarter is instigating students on campuses against the university’s activities, they claim.
Students of seven government colleges previously affiliated with Dhaka University issued an ultimatum today (18 September), warning they will launch a long march towards the Ministry of Education on 25 September if a proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance unifying these institutions is not issued by 24 September.
They made the announcement during a press conference at the Shaheed Minar of Dhaka College, with Dhaka College student Abdur Rahman and Eden College student Smriti Akter jointly reading out a written statement.
In the statement, they demanded that the government Advisory Council give final approval and that the administration issue the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance by 24 September.
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They warned that otherwise, students will march towards the ministry on 25 September.
Alleging that conspiracies are ongoing over the proposed university, the students said a vested quarter is instigating students on campuses against the university's activities. In the name of protecting tradition, they are using some students at the last moment to obstruct the government's initiative, they claimed.
They also said conspirators earlier hatched a plot, tempting students of Government Titumir College with promises of making their institution an independent university.
But once Titumir students realised the quality of the proposed structure, they withdrew from the so-called movement and welcomed the proposal, the students added.
The students alleged that some teachers have become organised and are staging protests, even skipping classes and exams to join programmes at the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE).
Teachers, instead of being busy with classes, exams and research, are spending time pursuing their own interests by holding demonstrations, they said.
According to them, some teachers who were beneficiaries of the Awami League regime could be leading this movement.
The students added that attempts are being made to trap them in another affiliation system or drag them back under the National University.
Notably, the students of the seven government colleges in Dhaka have long been demonstrating for a separate university. However, now many teachers from these institutions are opposing the proposed university structure, holding their own protests.
In response, today, students boycotted classes and exams, staged demonstrations, and held a press conference demanding the ordinance and opposing teachers' protests.
Affiliation and separation
The seven colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls College, Government Titumir College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Government Bangla College.
These colleges collectively have about 200,000 students, with over 1,000 teachers, and admit around 21,500 students each session.
The seven colleges were affiliated with DU on 17 February 2017. The affiliation ended in January this year following weeks of protests by the students of these colleges.
They have been demanding the establishment of a separate university for the seven colleges. The interim government formed a special committee back in December following prolonged protests.
The committee members spent over three months conducting feasibility studies, visiting campuses, drafting a framework for an honourable separation, and holding meetings with teachers and students, among other tasks.
On 18 February, the UGC invited suggestions for the name of the proposed university.
Finally, in March, the name of the proposed new university was finalised as Dhaka Central University.
