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Published : 02 Feb 2025, 09:05 PM
The demand to upgrade Government Titumir College to a university has not been given “special consideration”, Education and Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud has said.
Speaking to journalists after an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, or ECNEC, meeting on Sunday, he emphasised that setting a deadline for such a transition is not a logical demand.
“I have not given any special consideration,” the advisor said.
“It is not reasonable to declare a college a university within a fixed time frame. We will no longer make decisions under pressure from such demands.
“An illogical decision today can become a burden for years to come.”
Students have been protesting, staging hunger strikes, and blocking roads in phases to press home their seven-point charter of demand, including the upgrade of Titumir College into a university.
In response, the education ministry said on Saturday that the issue was under “special consideration” by the interim government.
Briefing the journalists at the National Economic Council, or NEC, conference room in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Wahiduddin explained that the interim administration is not here to fulfil demands.
“We are here to ensure a smooth transition to a well-governed democratic system. In the meantime, we will try to implement small reforms.”
He continued, "We have clearly said from the education ministry that the seven colleges do not want to remain under Dhaka University, and Dhaka University does not want to oversee these seven colleges. This is reasonable.
“That is why a specialist committee, headed by the [University Grants Commission] chairman, is working on creating a separate university model for these seven colleges.
“Titumir College is among them, and its case is also being given special consideration there."
The advisor said the committee met representatives of all seven colleges, including Titumir College, to address the difficulties and inconveniences students have faced over the past few years.
He added that while Bangladesh has many esteemed colleges, such as Rajshahi College, Government Brojomohun College, and MC College, not every college can be converted into a university.
Wahiduddin suggested that the number of public universities should be reduced.
“There are 55 public universities. Half of them have been established in the past seven years. Bangladesh has set a record for the fastest expansion of universities.
“It takes several years to establish a university from the planning stage. Dhaka University itself was founded after seven to eight years of planning and multiple commission reports.”
The advisor urged the protesting students to ensure their demonstrations do not disrupt academic activities or cause public suffering.
“Many Titumir College students want to return to their classes. They do not want to cause public inconvenience,” he concluded.
