Students not returning to classes at Dhaka University amid administrative disarray

“We can’t say the university is doing well, but it is still functioning,” an official says

The Dhaka University campus has reopened but students have yet to return to classes in numbers following the disarray due to the resignations of the vice chancellor, proctors, hall provosts and deans.

The university’s academic activities were indefinitely suspended on Jul 17 amid violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Its halls of residence were also vacated. The campus and its dormitories reopened a day after Sheikh Hasina fled the country on Aug 5, but academic activities have yet to resume.

In the wake of the students’ demand, the entirety of the university’s proctorial body, including proctor Md Maksudur Rahman, resigned on Aug 8. Vice Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal resigned on Aug 10. In addition, the university’s Registrar Prabir Kumar Sarkar also applied for early retirement.

Meanwhile, the provosts of the university’s Ruqayyah Hall, Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, Shamsun Nahar Hall, Bijoy Ekattor Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall and Salimullah Muslim Hall have also resigned.

Arts Faculty Dean Prof Abdul Basir and Fine Arts Institute Dean Prof Nisar Hossain also resigned following the students’ demands on Monday.

Despite the order from the interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s order to resume regular activities at all educational institutions, including public and private universities, from Sunday, students have not returned to class.

The students demanded that they would not return to classes until the resignations of teachers who had supported the government during the movement. Many of them are conducting a ‘cleanliness drive’ at different faculties, including the university’s administrative building.

After the resignation of the vice-chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor for Administration Prof Muhammad Samad and Pro Vice Chancellor for Education Prof Sitesh Chandra Bachar took the reins of the university.

When asked how the university’s activities are proceeding, Bachar told bdnews24.com: “It cannot be said that the university is doing very well. It's still open somehow. A lot of office files are stuck. There are problems in many areas."

He continued, “We are trying to bring the students back to classes. Educational activities are expected to return to normal after the appointment of a vice chancellor.”

STUDENTS AGAINST STUDENT POLITICS

The students collected signatures of provosts for a commitment to ban ‘student politics’ at all residential halls at Dhaka University amid tensions over the quota reform movement on Jul 17.

After clashes between the protesters, police and Chhatra League in parts of the country on that day, the DU students collected the signatures on the pledge after a move to throw out Chhatra League leaders from the halls around midnight.

The rooms of the Chhatra League leaders were also vandalised.

The students reiterated their demand to ban student politics on the campus after the fall of the government. A group of pupils pressed the demand to ban ‘party-based student politics’ from a protest rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus on Monday.

Pavel Ahmed, a student from the university’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, said:

“We want a peaceful, politics-free and student-friendly environment and a neutral administration. Let there be student politics based on the Dhaka University Central Student Union, or DUCSU. But we want no more political parties."

Sabikun Nahar, a student of the university's Department of Law, said: “The Dhaka University administration will have to take more strict steps. It is essential to improve the standard of education and quality of life. Outsiders must be kept away completely from the campus.”

“No student politics will be allowed on the campus, whatever party it is. DUCSU will be the only organisation to fulfil the rights of the students.”