Govt colleges’ affiliations to be reinstated to nearest public universities

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

While addressing weekly meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), she also directed authorities to take steps so that no university can enroll more students than their seat capacity.

Hasina, also the Ecnec chairperson, presided over the meeting at NEC conference room. 

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said 13 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 7,744.47 crore were approved at the meeting.

“The prime minister directed authorities that every government colleges should be affiliated to its nearest public university,” he said.

All government and non-government colleges -- except seven in Dhaka -- have been affiliated with National University (NU) since 1992, when the university was established. Before the establishment of NU, all colleges were affiliated to their respective nearest public university.

Seven government colleges of the capital became affiliated with Dhaka University in February 2017, in line with the PM’s August 2014 directive. There are 673 government colleges in the country, where 21.95 lakh students are enrolled.

Mannan said the PM also directed the universities to not enroll students beyond their capacity. New universities would be set up to accommodate the growing number of students. Side by side, the universities should give due emphasis on conducting research, she said.

Mannan said the PM also directed authorities to set up a national park at Sonadia island.    

Of the approved 13 projects, 10 are new while the remaining three are revised projects, said officials.

The meeting approved widening of Dhaka (Mirpur)-Utholi-Paturia National Highway from Nabinagar to Noyarhat and Paturia Ghat area, alongside constructing dedicated lane, service lane and bus bay at various bus stands at Paturia Ghat at a cost of Tk 696.31 crore. The project will be launched this month, and end in June 2022.

Officials said the initiative aims at reducing traffic congestion at market areas of the highway, and improving road safety of accident-prone areas.

The other projects approved at the meeting include strengthening fertiliser management operations through maintenance and rehabilitation of existing storehouses of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, and constructing new ones (second phase) with Tk 311 crore.

Modernisation of city street light system at different areas under Chattogram City Corporation was approved, at a cost of Tk 260.90 crore.

The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh will implement the Power Transmission system extension and strengthening system in Chattogram project by June 2022, in a bid to upgrade the power transmission system infrastructures at Anwara, Patia, Hathazari and Chattogram city at the cost of Tk 925 crore.