Pro-BNP DU teachers slate Bobby Hajjaj over 'coaching centre’ remarks

Dhaka University teachers from the pro-BNP White Panel have condemned and protested a recent comment by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj after he compared the university with a “coaching centre”.

In a statement on Friday, the platform described the comparison as “extremely insulting and irresponsible”.

In the podcast recently published on a Facebook page called “SameerScane”, Hajjaj said Dhaka University does not conduct “even a fraction” of the research that BRAC University and North South University do.

He claimed that most universities in the country are not truly research-based institutions but are run like “teaching universities” or coaching centres.

The White Panel said Dhaka University ranks at the top among the country's public universities in terms of research and publication.

Citing the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, the teachers said the university is currently one of the leading research educational institutions in the country.

“Not only that, the university has about 56 active and specialised research bureaus and centres under the faculties of science, arts and social sciences,” their statement reads.

It refers to the Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) and the Centre for Advanced Research in Arts and Social Sciences (CARASS) among others.

According to the platform, the university teachers and students publish numerous research papers in internationally recognised Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals every year.

“His comparison of Dhaka University with two private universities based on untrue information while commenting on Dhaka University's research is highly condemnable," it says.

The teachers recounted the university’s role in all historic events involving the country including those before its birth, saying the university led from the front in those.

Highlighting the importance of the university, they said: "The unique and glorious contribution that Dhaka University has made to the education and research of this country despite state indifference and limited budget is appreciated all over the world. In short -- Bangladesh means Dhaka University."

It also called the statement by the state minister as unfortunate.

They said, “His comment cannot be from a healthy or historically aware person. Rather, it appears to be the ignorant delusion of an extremely old-fashioned person.

“Such a comment is extremely shameful and has deeply shocked the entire university family and the citizens.”

They said the statement hurt the sentiment of former and current students, and teachers of Dhaka University and undermined the history and contribution of this university.

The White Panel demanded that Hajjaj withdraw the comment immediately.

Otherwise, the teachers and students will take strict measures to protect the university's dignity, they warned.

The university students are also criticising the state minister.