Why students want journalism, law departments at Titumir College

Protesters campaigning for the upgrade of the college into a university say these disciplines can bring ‘positive changes’ in society

Students demonstrating for the transformation of Government Titumir College into a university have demanded the introduction of journalism and law departments to bring "positive changes" in society.

As part of their ongoing protest and hunger strike, they have put forward a seven-point demand, one of which is the launch of these two new subjects starting from the 2024-25 academic session.

Currently, Titumir College offers honours courses in 22 subjects.

On Saturday evening, Aminul Islam, a third-year mathematics student and a leader of “Titumir Oikya”, the platform of the movement to transform the college into a university, explained the rationale behind the demand to bdnews24.com.

Aminul, who was on hunger strike, had become weak and was unable to speak, so he provided a written statement outlining their arguments.

On the necessity of a law department, Aminul wrote: “The importance of law and justice in society is immense. If quality legal education is provided, young people will be able to stand for justice and help establish the rule of law.”

The students believe that if Titumir College is transformed into a university, it should aim to be a globally recognised institution.

Therefore, launching undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in law is essential for producing the next generation of legal professionals and judges, the statement said.

Explaining the need for a journalism department, Aminul wrote: “In today’s digital era, journalism plays a crucial role. Journalists serve as the eyes and voice of society. They are often referred to as the mirror of society. Proper journalism education will equip young people with professional skills, enhancing the quality of the country’s media sector.”

He also pointed out that both law and journalism disciplines offer significant employment opportunities.

“A law graduate can work as a legal advisor, lawyer, or judge, while a journalism graduate can pursue careers as a journalist, editor, TV or radio presenter, or producer.”

Aminul believes meeting their demands will enhance the reputation of Titumir College and help it compete with other universities.

“These two disciplines can bring positive changes in society,” it said.

At present, no National University-affiliated college offers degrees for these two subjects.

Even when Dhaka’s seven colleges were affiliated with Dhaka University, they did not have journalism or law departments.

ONGOING PROTEST AND DEMANDS

The students have been on a hunger strike and blocking the road outside the college campus since Saturday evening.

They began their blockade on Thursday after launching a hunger strike on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, they started a “Shutdown Titumir” programme by boycotting classes and exams.

On Friday evening, they set a 4pm deadline on Saturday for the government to accept their demands and threatened to block streets in Dhaka North City if it was not met.

Although they briefly protested in Gulshan in the evening, they later returned to the campus.

The students' seven-point demand focuses on upgrading the college to a university.

Their other demands include granting official recognition to “Titumir University” and publishing an academic calendar, forming the university’s administration and starting the admission process for the 2024-25 session, ensuring full residential facilities for all students or covering their accommodation costs, recruiting PhD-qualified teachers, limiting student intake to maintain quality education, and allocating land and funds for an international-standard research lab.