Teachers from Dhaka’s seven major government colleges have held a demonstration in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC), expressing strong opposition to the proposed framework for establishing a new university.
They warned that implementing the plan as it stands could disrupt the education system, reduce student intake, and increase educational inequality—particularly affecting women’s education at Eden Mohila College and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College. Teachers also raised concerns about potential complications regarding faculty positions and designations.
The educators proposed that instead of creating a standalone university under the suggested structure, the seven colleges be integrated as separate campuses under the new university, which could still be named “Dhaka Central University.”
The demonstration on Wednesday afternoon drew several hundred teachers from the seven colleges, which were previously affiliated with the National University before being brought under Dhaka University on February 17, 2017. Since the affiliation, students had repeatedly protested over issues such as timely examinations and results. In response to these movements, the government had earlier announced plans to separate the colleges from Dhaka University and establish a new university.
Under the proposed plan, the seven colleges would be divided into four schools: the School of Science (Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College), the School of Arts and Humanities (Government Bangla College), the School of Business (Government Titumir College), and the School of Law and Justice (Kabi Nazrul Government College and Shaheed Suhrawardy Government College). Classes would follow a “hybrid model,” with 40% online and 60% in-person, though all examinations would be conducted on campus.
Teachers at the protest emphasized that a sudden reorganization would be contrary to national interest and heritage. They argued that such a move, implemented without thorough study, could repeat past problems experienced during the previous affiliation with Dhaka University, including significant reductions in first-year honors enrollment. This, they warned, would disproportionately impact students from less privileged families and undermine the long-standing reputation of these colleges for higher secondary education.
Particularly, teachers highlighted that Eden Mohila College and Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College have historically advanced women’s education. They cautioned that the proposed university structure would severely limit opportunities for female students in the capital. Teachers also noted that some students have already expressed discontent through protests and roadblocks, potentially creating further unrest.
Faculty participating in the protest—including BCS General Education cadre officers—also raised concerns that transitioning to a full-fledged university would reduce staff positions, citing the example of Jagannath College’s conversion as precedent. They urged that if the seven colleges are to come under the new university, the process should ensure proper discussion, proportional faculty-student ratios, and modernized curriculum and subjects.
Professor Mahfil Ara Begum, Head of the History Department at Eden Mohila College, told Prothom Alo that while they are not opposed to the creation of a new university, they insist that the current structure of the seven colleges be preserved, and they should be integrated under the new university as affiliated campuses.
The protest also received support from the BCS General Education Association, including its convener, Professor Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud, and member-secretary Masud Rana Khan. The demonstration concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the UGC Chairman.
