DU students block main entrance in protest

Demonstrating students of Dhaka University yesterday announced that they will continue their movement demanding cancellation of seven colleges’ affiliation with the university, as the authorities have not given assurance of scrapping the affiliation.

“The demands our pro vice-chancellor assured to fulfil are not the same demands we placed. He said that the seven colleges will be operated separately, but that was not what we wanted. We demanded [full] cancellation of affiliation,” said Shakil Mia, a student of management department and spokesperson of the movement.

“We will continue our non-cooperation movement and boycott all classes and examinations until the authorities take proper steps to fulfil our demands,” he added.

Earlier at a press conference held at the vice-chancellor’s lounge of the university, DU Pro-VC [administration] Prof Muhammad Samad said they have no right to cancel affiliation of the colleges.

“We will discuss and find a way to operate the seven colleges so that it doesn’t hamper the academic activities of Dhaka University’s regular students. We have no right to cancel their affiliation. It is a government decision,” said Prof Samad.

He said they have sympathy towards the students’ logical demands and the process of fulfilling those demands will continue.

Prof Samad urged the students to resume all classes and examinations.

Speaking about the alleged problems caused due to the affiliation, Prof Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, coordinator of the seven colleges, said “Students think that we issue same certificates to Dhaka University students and the seven colleges. Ducsu Vice President Nurul Haq Nur proposed we use separate colours for the certificates or write the colleges’ names in bold letters. We will take initiative regarding this.”

“Their convocation was also held separately and we will build a separate administrative building,” said Prof Shibli.

As per their earlier announcement, the agitating students padlocked the university’s academic and administrative buildings to press home their four-point demand, including cancellation of seven colleges’ affiliation with the institution.

Agitated students were seen staging a sit-in in front of a locked registrar building at 11am while administrative officers and staff waited in a nearby field.

The protesters brought out processions, blocking all roads on the campus since 6:30am. The students took position at the main entrances of the academic buildings of arts and science faculties as well.

The students were requested to halt their protests until Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman returns from his trip to China, but they did not comply.

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.

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