Dhaka Central University deserves support from all, not opposition  

Bangladesh has witnessed an exponential growth of universities during the one and a half decades tenure of the ousted Awami League government. During this period, 87 universities, both public and private, were established, raising the total number of universities to 170 (55 public and 115 private). Regrettably, many of these are universities in name only, operating from rented buildings and suffering from chronic shortages of teachers, staff, and essential resources even a decade after their inception. Worse still, it has recently emerged in the media that ecologically sensitive areas, including parts of the Chalan Beel in Rajshahi and the haor region in Sunamganj, have been earmarked for permanent campuses of certain universities, which would inevitably cause an ecological disaster. 

Thus, like many other sectors, the education sector too is in crisis due to the establishment of one university after another under political consideration, not to mention the problem of mismanagement and corruption. The interim government was expected to address these longstanding issues. In fact, several universities established by the previous government have been performing so poorly that, after the formation of the interim government, educationists proposed merging weaker institutions both in the private and public sectors to preserve the overall integrity of higher education.

However, in an apparent bid to appease graduate and postgraduate students of seven government colleges in Dhaka, the government has initiated the process of establishing yet another public university, named Dhaka Central University. But the developments regarding the establishment of the university are quite frustrating. 

First and foremost, the establishment of a new university necessitates discussion among stakeholders for well-thought-out planning regarding its academic, financial and logistical aspects. Graduate and postgraduate students of the seven colleges had long been demonstrating for the establishment of a separate university, alleging discrimination by the Dhaka University authorities. Their colleges were hastily affiliated with Dhaka University by the Awami League government in 2017, a move that many students claim has caused academic and administrative complications. Surprisingly, while Honours and Master's students had been demanding a university, HSC students enrolled in some of these colleges and BCS Education Cadre officers appointed in these colleges had remained silent. But as soon as the government announced its plan to set up the university, they began protesting against it.

So, three main groups are at play here: Honours and Master's students, BCS education cadre officers, and higher secondary (HSC) students. The demand of HSC students is clear: whether or not a separate university is formed, HSC programmes in their respective colleges must remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the roughly 1,500 BCS education cadre officers are more concerned about their service benefits.

As per the draft of the Dhaka Central University Ordinance 2025, unlike the current system, not all subjects will be taught at every college. Instead, the seven colleges will be divided into four schools: Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, and Begum Badrunnesa Mohila College for the School of Science; Government Bangla College for the School of Arts and Humanities; Government Titumir College for the School of Business; and Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College for the School of Law and Justice. The new university will be run in a 'hybrid model' as it will hold 40 per cent of classes online and 60 per cent in person, though all exams will be conducted physically.

According to the plan, the colleges that offer higher secondary education will continue to run those programs, and education cadre officers will also remain. However, once it becomes a fully-fledged university, teachers will be appointed according to the university's recruitment policy, and existing teachers can apply if they wish. 

The teachers' demands included the incorporation of a provision in the ordinance that the BCS general education cadre members will be appointed to all administrative and teacher positions. No changes in names or structures of the colleges or any faculty or school will be made, keeping all movable and immovable properties, including logos of the colleges, intact and no changes in the ownership of those assets under the proposed university will be allowed. Also, there will be no introduction of any new subjects. Any existing subject specially Arabic and Islamic studies taught at the colleges will not be excluded. They proposed establishment of the university at separate location if necessary.

Secondary education in these colleges will not be affected if it is run under separate administration. But the question is: why are the teachers opposing the formation of the university? Are the reasons cited in the list the real, or is there any hidden agenda? One would expect them to be pleased, because even if not all, many of them would have become university teachers. Besides, decisions about which subjects will be taught and who will be recruited as teachers and officers at a university certainly should not be determined by street protests. In fact, none of the protesting teachers' jobs are at stake here. If the new university does not offer courses in their subjects, at most they would be transferred to other government colleges. It is unimaginable that, just to satisfy their narrow interests of keeping posted in Dhaka and enjoy other perks and privileges, they are objecting to the creation of a new independent university. Amidst the unchecked growth of private universities and rising educational expenses, if the seven large colleges in Dhaka can be truly revamped by integrating them into one university and offer quality, affordable higher education, it deserves support 

from all.

aktuhin.fexpess@gmail.com