Dhaka Central University: Cabinet receives final ordinance draft, likely to get approval soon

The Ministry of Education yesterday sent the final draft ordinance for establishing the proposed Dhaka Central University to the Cabinet Division after completing all procedural steps at the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

In a statement, the ministry said the ordinance is expected to get approval soon.

Before finalising the ordinance, the ministry conducted several key steps, including gathering opinions from relevant ministries and departments, publishing the draft online for public feedback, holding discussions with teachers, students, and civil society members, and consulting experts.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division ensured the draft reflected reasonable expectations and addressed concerns while setting a framework for quality education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, according to the ministry.

The division kept the public informed of progress through regular press releases.

Officials said that establishing a sustainable, world-class university requires careful planning and phased structural reforms, as any disorder at any stage could disrupt the initiative.

The ministry appealed to all stakeholders to refrain from activities that could create public inconvenience or unrest, warning that destabilising incidents could undermine years of effort.

The ministry expressed confidence that continued cooperation would soon pave the way for the official launch of Dhaka Central University.

The ordinance comes after weeks of protests by students from seven colleges in the city— Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Mohila College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul College, Govt Bangla College, and Govt Titumir College—who demanded a separate university.

Earlier, the first draft had faced criticism from students, prompting revisions. The revised plan preserves the individual identity of each college while integrating them under a structure similar to the National University.

The seven colleges have long been at the centre of administrative and affiliation disputes. In 2017, they were shifted from National University to Dhaka University without adequate preparation.

In January 2025, they were again separated from Dhaka University, creating further complications before the new university could be formally established.

Following student demands, the government decided to form a new university incorporating all seven colleges while maintaining their distinct identities.