Only three convocations held at CU since 1966

Since its journey started 49 years back, Chittagong University has organised only three convocations, depriving thousands of graduates of a cherished moment.

Fund shortages were blamed.

The last commencement was held on November 5, 2008, during the tenure of Vice Chancellor Prof M Badiul Alam, and graduates and postgraduates between 1995 and 2003 attended it.

As no convocation followed, 40,000 graduates have been deprived since then, said Deputy Controller of Examination Misba-ul-Muqarrabin.

Shazada Khanam Munne, a geography graduate of 2012, said graduation ceremonies were inspiring.

"This is an honour to receive the certificate from the chancellor," said another, Md Taslim Uddin, who graduated in English in 2011.

A finance graduate, Rashidul Samir, added, "The photo of a black gown and a hat adorning our body and the certificate in our hands evokes a special moment, for which not only we but also our parents wait."

The first convocation was held on February 6, 1994, when Prof Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury was the VC, and graduates and postgraduates between 1968 and 1982 attended it, said administration sources.

In the second one, held five years later on March 13, 1999, graduates and postgraduates from 1983 to 1994 participated. Prof Abdul Mannan served as VC at that time.

CU Acting Registrar Prof Kamrul Hossain said unlike other public universities, CU budgets did never have an allocation for the convocation.

"If we plan one, we have to ask for fund from the University Grants Commission," he said.

UGC funds the ceremony partially, while the rest of the cost comes from graduates' registration fees, he told The Daily Star.

However, in November 2014, an initiative to hold a graduation ceremony was foiled because of an attack on the teachers' buses on the campus, said Prof Benu Kumar Dey, president of Chittagong University Teachers' Association (Cuta).

The incumbent VC, Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, said the process of getting UGC's fund was full of hassles, so past VCs might have felt discouraged.

He fixed December 2 this year as a tentative date for the convocation.

"During my courtesy meeting with President Abdul Hamid on August 3, he verbally gave permission to arrange the convocation on December 2," he said.

The VC also said CU's next budget would have an allocation for the convocation.