What’s the fate of 7 colleges after split with DU?

Uncertainty surrounds the future of seven colleges as their Dhaka University affiliation ends, with concerns arising about the challenges they will navigate as independent entities.

The immediate consequences include challenges in student admissions. Additionally, the process of establishing a new university which will govern these colleges involves detailed legal and administrative planning, leading to uncertainty about their timeline for formal independence.

Meanwhile, students of these colleges yesterday issued a 15-day ultimatum seeking an outline for the establishment of an independent entity to govern the colleges, just hours after withdrawing their protests after assurance from the home adviser on meeting their overall demands.

"DU authorities did not consult with me before announcing the separation decision."             

Wahiduddin Mahmud, Education Adviser

"We want a detailed outline for how the university for the seven colleges will be formed," Abdur Rahman, a spokesperson representing the students, said at the Dhaka College auditorium.

While Dhaka University (DU) VC Professor Niaz Ahmed announced the end of the affiliation on Monday following protests and clashes, Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday told reporters, "DU authorities did not consult with me before announcing the separation decision."

The DU also decided to halt student admissions for these colleges for the 2024-2025 session.

The seven colleges include Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College. 

These colleges collectively have about 200,000 students, with over 1,000 teachers, and admit approximately 21,500 students each session. 

"By cancelling student admissions [in the seven colleges] for this academic year, a new complication has arisen," the education adviser said while responding to journalists' questions after an event at North South University in the capital.

Siddiqur Rahman, a former DU professor, told TBS, "Students must not be victimised by the situation arising from DU's decision. If they can't secure admission, where will they go? This decision has created uncertainty and is anti-student. DU could have conducted the admission process for these colleges for at least two more sessions."

Education ministry and UGC sources reveal a committee is working with students to establish separate universities, with the UGC holding multiple meetings and developing various implementation models.

At the NSU event, Wahiduddin Mahmud said, "A process is underway to establish an authority similar to a university for the seven colleges, and a new model might be introduced."

"The model for establishing independent universities was being developed in consultation with students, with multiple models under consideration. However, following clashes between students, DU abruptly announced that it would no longer admit students for these colleges," he said, adding that the DU did not discuss the matter with him before making the decision.

He further explained that establishing a university is a time-consuming process. "A university requires rules, regulations, and laws. To establish one, a certificate is needed, which must be verified by various departments, including the President's Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Ministry of Law."

"They had mentioned doing something through the UGC. However, UGC is not a university, nor does it have the authority to conduct admissions. Without university certification, there is no legal basis for pre-emptive admissions," he said. 

"Now that an impasse has arisen, we will need to resume discussions to find a resolution," he said.

When asked about when a decision might be reached, he said, "Given the current situation, I cannot say how quickly or what steps will be taken."

A history of affiliation and separation

Prior to the creation of the National University in 1992, the seven colleges were affiliated with Dhaka University (DU).

Once the National University was established, it assumed responsibility for these colleges.

In August 2014, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the education ministry to reinstate the affiliation. By November 2016, the education ministry decided to reassign the seven colleges to DU.

In February 2017, the seven colleges were officially affiliated with DU.