Dhaka University says it’s unprepared for affiliated colleges

The Dhaka University administration admits that its affiliation programme with seven colleges was implemented ‘without prior preparation or planning’.

The statement came from the university’s public relations department on Saturday amid protests by Dhaka University students calling for an end to the affiliations. Students from the colleges have also held several rounds of protests demanding schedules for their exams and the release of their results.

On Feb 16, 2017, the decision was taken to make Dhaka College, Eden Women’s College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Women’s College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College affiliates of Dhaka University.

College students have held three rounds of protests since they came under the supervision of Dhaka University. The first round of protests was held on Jul 20 last year to call for exams and the release of results. One of the protesters was blinded by a police teargas canister. Police filed a case over the protests against 200 students.

The second round of protests was held last October as fourth year students occupied the Nilkhet intersection to call for the DU to publish their exam results. The protests dispersed after the administration assured them that the results would be published soon. They were eventually released in November.

Two months later, students flocked to the Nilkhet intersection once again to demand the release of the results for the 2014-15 academic year and the start of third-year classes. The protests ended after assurances were made that the results would be published within a month.

Last week Dhaka University students started protests calling for the university to dismiss its affiliation programme and occupied the vice-chancellor’s offices.

The statement from the administration on Saturday noted seven steps that could be taken to resolve the issues regarding the affiliate colleges.

“Complications arose after the seven Dhaka government colleges were made affiliates of the university without prior preparations or planning,” the statement said.

Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique was the vice chancellor last year when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the decision to grant Dhaka University’s supervision over the colleges. Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman is the current vice-chancellor.

“The education and social activities of Dhaka University students will not be hampered due to the academic activities or management of affiliated educational institutions,” Dhaka University said on Saturday.

All student activities for the affiliated colleges would be organised on their own campuses, according to the statement.

“They will not be granted any Dhaka University identification, and will receive ID cards from their respective institutions as before.”

“They will not be able to use Dhaka University housing, transport, healthcare and library. Only Dhaka University students with ID cards from the university will be able to make use of these facilities.”