CoU Correspondent :
Students of the University of Cumilla (CoU) have given the university administration a 72-hour ultimatum to end the cluster admission system and return to an independent admission process. They submitted a memorandum to the administration on Thursday, January 9, at 2:30 PM, in front of the university’s administrative building.
The students warned that if the administration does not act within the 72-hour deadline, they will stop all administrative activities.
The students gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office at around 1:30 PM to demand an independent admission process. After speaking with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Haider Ali, and not receiving satisfactory answers, they staged a sit-in in front of the administrative building and issued the ultimatum.
Araff Bhuiyan, a student from the Department of Physics (2019-20 batch), expressed frustration, saying, “It’s shameful that we have to repeatedly protest against such a ridiculous system as the cluster admission system.” He also warned the government’s advisory board, saying, “If the cluster system continues, we are ready to stop it. We want CoU to exit the cluster system in the 2024-25 academic session.”
Pavel Rana, a student from the Department of Marketing (2019-20 batch), stated, “The cluster system is autocratic, and we won’t be part of it. We have the support of current and former students and faculty. The admission test for 2024-25 must be independent.”
Mohammad Abir, a student from the Department of English (2017-18 batch), added, “We want to be freed from the cluster system. We don’t want any student to lose a year or leave seats empty because of this system. We want the university to return to its independent identity.”
On December 15, 2024, the university’s 83rd Academic Council meeting decided to leave the cluster system and adopt an independent admission process. However, on January 3, 2025, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Md. Haider Ali announced that the cluster system would continue for the 2024-25 session, which sparked widespread criticism among students and faculty.
Earlier, CoU students, along with groups like the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (CoU Unit), had submitted a memorandum demanding an independent admission process. On January 5, students held a human chain and sit-in protest, calling for the cancellation of the cluster system and the abolition of the staff children’s quota.
