Staff Reporter :
Students from seven affiliated colleges under the University of Dhaka (DU) have issued a one-month ultimatum for the government to establish an autonomous university, encompassing the seven institutions, and conduct admission tests for the 2024-25 session under this new framework.
They warned of renewed protests if their demands are not met or if the number of seats is significantly reduced in the process.
The demands were made during a press conference on Saturday ,January 4 at Dhaka College’s Shaheed Minar.
Abdur Rahman, spokesperson for the movement advocating the transformation of the seven colleges into an independent university, presented their statement, highlighting years of “exploitation and deprivation” under DU’s affiliation.
“The government has acknowledged our long-standing demand for autonomy by forming a high-level expert committee to draft a structural framework for an independent university,” Rahman stated.
However, he criticized the four-month timeline granted to the committee as excessive. “We urge the committee to publish a gazette notification within 30 working days and ensure the upcoming admission tests are held under the autonomous framework, not DU’s affiliation.”
Rahman further warned, “If the DU administration engages in any new tactics to control admission tests or curtails opportunities, we will leave our study tables and take to the streets once again.”
The movement gained momentum following an earlier decision by the Ministry of Education. On October 24, a 13-member committee was formed to address educational and administrative issues within the affiliated colleges.
On December 30, a four-member expert committee was established to draft a framework for an independent institution equivalent to a university for the seven colleges. This committee is led by the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and includes key representatives from the Ministry of Education, DU, and UGC.
Despite the government’s efforts, students remain adamant that the committee’s report must be submitted within one month instead of the allocated four months. They have made it clear that no further delays or compromises will be accepted in their quest for autonomy.
