Students’ uncertainty regarding Dhaka Central University is not easing

The plan to create Dhaka Central University (DCU) merged the capital’s seven historic colleges. The goal was to remove educational disparities. However, student uncertainty and unrest remain high. Students achieved a separate university after a long movement. Now, the delay in starting classes has caused new instability. Students are again protesting on the roads, demanding prompt class commencement. This student action has again disrupted city traffic, causing distress for daily commuters.

Protests Erupt Over Class Delays
On Sunday (November 30), students in the proposed DCU’s 2024-25 undergraduate program blocked the Shahbag intersection in Dhaka. They demanded an immediate start to classes. DCU students also blocked the Science Lab intersection that same day. This halted vehicle movement and caused hardship for city residents.

Admission for the 2024-25 undergraduate program was supposed to finish on November 23. Classes were scheduled to begin on November 25. Then, on November 22, a circular was issued. This circular extended the admission deadline to November 25, and classes were rescheduled to start on November 30. Classes still did not begin on the revised date. Therefore, students launched their movement that very day.

Professor A K M Iliyas, DCU Administrator and Dhaka College Principal, was asked about the situation. He replied, “The Ministry of Education is reviewing this issue. I expect the problem will be resolved very quickly.” He urged the students to be patient.

The Seven Colleges and the DCU Crisis
The interim government formed DCU this year. It aims to solve long-standing student problems at the seven traditional colleges: Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Women’s College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Govt. College, Mirpur Bangla College, and Government Titumir College. Despite many challenges, the 2024-25 admission process for this proposed university finished. Now, the university authorities cannot start the classes.

Controversy Surrounds the Draft Ordinance
The government made a policy decision to create a university to fix the issues of the seven colleges. Next, the draft ordinance for the proposed DCU was published on September 24. This publication sparked disagreement among students. Students and guardians complained about missing subjects. Most subjects taught in the Honours programs at the seven colleges were not included in the draft. Critics also alleged that the proposed draft limited women’s education. Protests over this continued for a time. Students demanded changes to the draft ordinance.

Mir Sarfat Ali, a former Dhaka College student leader, presented a 10-point demand after the draft was released. He stressed preserving the history, heritage, and autonomy of Dhaka College, the oldest higher education institution in Bangladesh. “Not one inch of this college’s land or infrastructure must be transferred,” he stated. He suggested establishing a controlling university (DCU) based on models like Oxford or Federal systems. This would allow the seven colleges to continue their teaching competitively while keeping their unique identity.

Students from Dhaka College’s Higher Secondary section also demanded the protection of the college’s heritage. Students from Begum Badrunnesa and Eden College made a five-point demand. This included maintaining the importance of women’s education. Students worry the existing draft will cause the seven colleges to lose their unique traditions and identity. They also expressed different expectations for the new system. The issue has caused student division. One group cares more about the future of current students than the long-term vision of the university.

Teachers Threaten College Shutdown
The DCU ordinance has not been officially issued yet. It will be released after the draft is finalized. Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan Hossain, a UGC member, noted, “We are still working to amend the law. More work needs doing. It should be finalized by the end of this year.”

Meanwhile, BCS General Education Cadre officers have issued a serious warning. They oppose the proposed university structure and threaten a mass rally and an indefinite ‘shutdown’ of colleges. This warning came at a press conference organized by the “Seven College Autonomy Preservation Council.”

Teachers argue that the draft ordinance names the new students as DCU students. However, the BCS Education Cadre teachers working at these colleges are not designated as university teachers. They demand that the ordinance must include Education Cadre members at all levels of the DCU structure. This is essential for the smooth running of the 2024-25 first-year undergraduate classes.