Classes held at DU amid low attendance

Classes were held at different departments of Dhaka University today following several days of class boycott and demonstrations by the students over cancellation of affiliation of the capital’s seven colleges with the university.

A small number of DU students attended the classes in the morning after activists of Chhatra League reportedly kept demonstrating students at bay, preventing them from padlocking the university’s administrative and academic buildings today, reports our DU correspondent.

A section of DU students continued their demonstration on the campus till yesterday for the third consecutive day, padlocking the administrative and academic buildings and boycotted all classes and examinations.

The activists of BCL, the student front of ruling Awami League, yesterday submitted a memorandum addressed to the DU vice-chancellor calling upon the authorities to take steps for a permanent solution to the ongoing crisis.

Before that, they held a demonstration in front of the Oporajeyo Bangla where speakers said they would give befitting reply to those who were trying to create chaos in the academic activities of the university by boycotting classes and exams.

In continuation of this, BCL men reportedly took position at different strategic positions on the campus since morning, preventing the demonstrating students from staging any demonstrations.

As a result, regular classes were held at the different departments of the university today. However, the classes saw thin attendance of students.

The section of students demonstrating over the issue claimed that general students are spontaneously boycotting the classes and exams over the demand for cancelling the affiliation of seven colleges in Dhaka with DU.

Meanwhile, to resolve the problems created centring the affiliation and the demands of students, the University authorities today formed a 11-member committee, according to a press release of the university.

The committee, headed by Pro- vice-chancellor (administration), was asked to submit their recommendation by ten working days.

Other members of the committee include deans of Arts, Social Science and Business Studies Faculty, principals of Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, vice-president and general secretary of Ducsu, president of Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, assistant proctor Prof Mainul Karim, Coordinator of the seven college, the release added.

On July 17, the students blocked the Shahbagh intersection for two hours, to press home their four-point demand including scrapping the affiliation of the colleges.

Later, on July 21, they announced to continue their movement as the authorities did not give assurance to meet their demands.

On February 17, 2017, the government affiliated Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College with Dhaka University.

Under the arrangement, their curriculum was brought under DU.

Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 9 directed the education ministry to return affiliation of the government colleges to their nearest public universities.