What do students of seven colleges want in their future university?

The education ministry’s committee is working on finalising the plan for the new institutional framework for 200,000 students

Despite being affiliated with Dhaka University for seven years, the seven government colleges in Dhaka have struggled to function “smoothly”.

Frequent protests over academic and administrative issues have repeatedly made headlines.

Those protests have finally paid off—students are now free from affiliation, stepping into a new institutional identity.

The seven colleges are being transformed into a university, named Dhaka Central University (DCU).

Except for Government Titumir College, students from the remaining six colleges are satisfied with the name.

Titumir College students, however, have been protesting for a separate university.

While the decision on the transformation and the name has been settled, there is still plenty of debate on what the structure and framework of the university will look like.

Students say they do not want a collegiate system like the one they experienced under Dhaka University after leaving the National University.

Instead, they demand a “modern”, faculty-based full-fledged university.

The outline for the independent institutional structure of the seven colleges, with nearly 200,000 students, has not yet been finalised.

The committee formed by the Ministry of Education is working on the matter.

Those involved in the committee say that the complete framework will be submitted to the ministry in April.

Before granting colleges their independent structure, the education ministry wrote to Dhaka University to form an interim administration, as per the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

According to the UGC's recommendation, a temporary framework will be set up, consisting of representatives from Dhaka University's exam controller's office, admissions office, registrar’s office, and accounts department.

This framework will manage all academic activities for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the seven colleges from the 2024-25 academic session.

Until the colleges are integrated into a certified full-fledged university or an equivalent institutional structure, this temporary framework will handle the responsibilities of the seven colleges.

A committee, headed by an UGC member, will act as the monitoring body for the seven colleges.

Its director will be a “competent and experienced” principal selected from one of the colleges.

The proposed structure, under the direction of Dhaka University, will involve representatives from the registrar’s office to assist with administrative matters related to students, while the exam controller’s office will handle exam-related tasks.

The proposed structure will see representatives or officers from Dhaka University’s registrar's office assisting with administrative functions related to student affairs.

In addition, the accounts department’s representatives or officials will help with financial matters.

A separate committee will manage online admissions for the seven colleges.

Many students have demanded the swift establishment of this interim structure.

The seven government colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls’ College, Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.

DHAKA COLLEGE STUDENTS WANT A 'MODERN' UNIVERSITY

Students of Dhaka College are calling for the university being formed from the seven colleges to be modernised.

Abdur Rahman, a student representative from the college, told bdnews24.com: "We don’t want a collegiate system university with the same old subjects from before.

“We want a fully autonomous, modern university that includes both old and new subjects relevant to today's needs."

He added that they were happy with the name Dhaka Central University, as it emerged from their street protests.

Rahman continued: "When we were fighting for this cause, this name was proposed. Many may have their own opinions about it, but after a long discussion with everyone, this name was included in the final proposal.

“Not just Dhaka College, but most of the students from the seven colleges are happy with it.”

EDEN COLLEGE STUDENTS DEMAND QUICK INTERIM STRUCTURE

Students from Eden Mohila College are calling for the swift establishment of an interim structure for the seven colleges, with a focus on finalising it based on their views.

Smriti Akter, a representative of Eden College students involved in the movement for the conversion of the seven colleges into a university, said: “We’re happy that the seven colleges are becoming an independent institution.

“The UGC has already created an interim structure proposal after consulting students from all the colleges.

“We hope that, in the same way, they will discuss with all the students of the colleges and finalise the structure of the university. We want the final structure to be based on everyone's views," she added.

The honours final-year student said: "To prevent session jams, this interim structure needs to be put in place quickly. The education ministry has already asked Dhaka University to form this structure.

“We hope that, keeping the future of all students in mind, it will be set up quickly.”

BADRUNNESA COLLEGE STUDENTS HAPPY WITH THE NAME

Students of Begum Badarunnesa Government Girl’s College are happy with the proposal to name the new university Dhaka Central University.

Anjuma Israt Emu, a student representative from the college, said: “Dhaka Central University was ‘our’ dream, and it’s finally coming true. All 8,500 students from ‘our’ college are thrilled.”

She added, “We still don’t know how the university structure will work or how things will operate. We’ll have to wait and see. We’ve already proposed a model to the UGC, and students from other colleges have also suggested their models.

“Once the UGC or the committee finalises the framework, we’ll know for sure.”

Emu, outlining the proposed model, explained that the plan was for Badrunnesa College to continue offering higher secondary education while students would pursue honours and master’s degrees under the DCU structure.

She added that this model would allow male students to also study at their college.

The third-year Islamic history and culture student said, “In the end, we won’t be around to enjoy the benefits of Dhaka Central University, but with the future in mind, we consulted with all students and created a proposal, which we’ve submitted to the committee.”

STUDENTS OF KABI NAZRUL COLLEGE HAPPY WITH ‘NEW IDENTITY’

Students of Kabi Nazrul Government College are pleased with their new identity as they move away from affiliation.

Student representative Jakaria Bari Sagar told bdnews24.com, “When we were affiliated with Dhaka University in 2016, we had high hopes. But those hopes were not fulfilled; instead, we faced deprivation. Now, we are finally getting our own identity. I believe not just ‘our’ college but students from all seven colleges are happy about this.”

Asked about their expectations for the new university, master’s student Sagar said: “The committee led by the UGC chairman has gathered opinions from students of all the colleges. Most students, including us, have supported the idea of organising the university into multiple faculties. Now, the committee will finalise the framework after discussions with academics and relevant stakeholders.”

SUHRAWARDY COLLEGE STUDENTS SEEK ‘FACULTY-BASED FULL-FLEDGED’ UNIVERSITY

Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College student representative Walid Jisan said, “When we peacefully submitted the memorandum to all stakeholders, we clearly proposed forming a full-fledged, autonomous university with faculty-based divisions for the seven colleges.

“We withdrew our protests after the government assured us of this step. Since this government was formed by students and the people, we firmly believe it will implement our demand soon,” he said.

“A faculty-based university will put an end to the students’ prolonged struggles while ensuring all academic opportunities. It will also dismantle the education syndicate,” he added.

On the university’s name, he said: “During our movement, we chanted, ‘DU or DCU? DCU, DCU!’ We spread the name ‘Dhaka Central University’ through graffiti and campaigns across all campuses.

“Our primary goal was to break free from the ‘autocratic’ Dhaka University syndicate administration, and naming it DCU has finally put an end to our long-standing struggle.

“My fellow students and I wholeheartedly accept this name. I strongly believe that in the future, DCU will be recognised as the country’s top university and play a key role in nation-building while ensuring equality in education and ending subjugation.”

SOME BANGLA COLLEGE STUDENTS RAISE CONCERNS

Some students of Government Bangla College have expressed concerns about the name Dhaka Central University, fearing it may give Dhaka College undue influence.

Shahadat Hossain, a student representative from Bangla College who was involved in the movement for university status, said: “When students were asked to suggest a name, we wanted one that would be free of controversy. Everyone knows that Dhaka College’s original name was Dhaka Central College. As a result, many students at Bangla College have mixed reactions to the name.”

“However, since this name was widely used throughout the movement, most students have accepted it despite some opposition. Now, we want it to be officially gazetted without delay,” he said.

Calling for the swift formation of an interim administration, he said: “UGC has assured us that an interim administration will be formed soon.

“Until the university’s gazette is issued, this administration will coordinate with Dhaka University. The UGC will oversee its activities.

“We urge the authorities to form this administration as soon as possible because students are concerned about their academic future,” he said.

“Since there are still debates over the university’s name, and some believe Dhaka College may try to dominate, Bangla College students demand that the interim administration be led by someone from a college other than Dhaka College. This may help resolve the dispute,” he suggested.

WHAT DO TITUMIR STUDENTS WANT?

Titumir College students voiced firm opposition to the government’s initiative to unite the seven colleges into a new university.

They are instead calling for the creation of an independent university of their own.

After the Awami League government was toppled on Aug 5, the students of the college located in Dhaka’s Mohakhali protested by blocking roads and railways demanding a separate university.

They also went on a hunger strike, and held discussions with education officials at the Secretariat several times during the protests.

“We reject the process of merging the seven colleges into Dhaka Central University,” said Md Bellal Hasan, office secretary of Titumir Oikya, a student platform advocating for the change.

“We remain steadfast in our demand that Titumir College be transformed into a university.”

Their resistance was made apparent when, on Sunday, four student representatives were invited to a meeting with the UGC.

Three declined to attend, while the fourth, after initially participating, walked out in protest, said Bellal.

However, 12 undergraduate students from several departments of Titumir College have expressed their support for the formation of Dhaka Central University and called for its swift implementation in a statement.

FULL OUTLINE IN APRIL

In a bid to reshape the academic framework of seven government colleges, the education ministry appointed a four-member expert committee to draft a proposal for an independent institutional structure equivalent to a university on Dec 29, 2024.

With the ministry setting a deadline of April for the completion of the outline, UGC member Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan expressed confidence in the committee’s progress.

“The work will be done within this time,” he told bdnews24.com.

When asked when the seven colleges would unite under the proposed independent institutional structure, Tanzimuddin acknowledged that the process would take time.

“Our outline will need approval from both Parliament and the Cabinet in the form of a law,” he said.

“However, it is possible to enact it through an ordinance under the interim government.”

He added that once the outline is complete, the committee will present its findings to the education advisor.

“The details will be placed before him,” he said.

“In the meantime, before the full transition to an independent institutional structure, we have recommended an interim framework for the colleges, which the Ministry of Education has already begun implementing.”

When asked how the proposed university would function alongside the seven colleges, he explained that they would share both time and space with the new institution.

“The colleges that currently offer higher secondary education will continue to do so,” he said.

“The outline for an independent institutional structure is being formulated with this framework in mind.”

The higher secondary level is already in place at Dhaka College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, and Government Bangla College.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi, Ruhshabah Tabassum Huda and Sheikh Fariha Bristy]