7 new DU-affiliate colleges

2.4 lakh students worry about academic future

Over 2.40 lakh students of the seven colleges recently affiliated to the Dhaka University (DU) are in a dilemma, as they are not getting any definite information from the authorities regarding the holding of their examinations.

The students say the college authorities are yet to officially announce any exam dates even seven months after the affiliation.

The students expressed dissatisfaction over Dhaka University’s failure to give them any official intimation in this regard.

The aggrieved students are demanding an official announcement regarding the examination schedule, as they are losing valuable time, but say they are getting no response.

They told The Independent they were losing valuable time in their academic career because of this delay and were facing session backlogs, while their friends in other institutions, barring these seven colleges, were ahead of them by one year.

 The seven newly affiliated colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College and Mirpur Government Bangla College.

The students of these colleges, which were under the National University (NU), had even filled forms to take part in exams, when the new affiliation to Dhaka University was announced in February. The change in status led the suspension of the examinations.

The students asked why the authorities were preventing them from taking the exams under the earlier arrangement to cover the lost time under the new affiliation.

The college authorities said they did not get any official statement from Dhaka University regarding the holding of the examinations.

So, they were unable to say anything officially to the students. But they hoped that they would get to know soon.

On the other hand, DU authorities said it was taking time due to a transition process. The college authorities along with the DU controller would fix the exam schedule, they added.

Meanwhile, the students clashed with police at Shahbagh on Thursday, while raising several demands including the formulation of new policies for the affiliated colleges, and completion of the viva-voce/practical exams of the honours second and fourth years.

The clash left several students seriously injured including Titumir College student Siddiqur Rahman, who sustained injuries in his both eyes, after police lobbed a teargas shell on their protest march.

Police even filed a case of attempted murder against 1,200 unknown persons in connection with the clash at Shahbagh.

The agitating students yesterday formed a human chain and held a demonstration in front of their colleges but the students of Titumir College were refused permission to do so in front of their college.

The students are agitating for fulfilment of their demands and the withdrawal of the case. They also want compensation for the injured students.

“Seven months have passed. We have not been able to sit for our exams. How is this loss going to be covered?” asked Bayezid Khan, a Master’s student at the Govt Bangla College.

“The authorities could not officially give us any specific date regarding the exam routine. Why did they go in for new the affiliation without making full preparation? Who will repay for our loss,” he added.

Enamul Haq, a student of Titumir College, said, “The police have injured several of our classmates. Their condition is serious. One had injury in both eyes. Who will compensate them? Now, an attempt is being made to taint our just demands as being anti-government.”

“Our academic life is being hampered. The authorities should have taken full preparation before taking the affiliation decision,” he added.

The students said they would go for a tougher movement, if their demands were not immediately met.

Professor Abu Haider Ahmed Naser, Principal of the Government Titumir College told The Independent, “We could not give any official notice regarding the exams, as we did not get any from the DU. We hope we will get it soon.”

IK Selim Ullah Khandaker, president of BCS General Education Association, admitted to The Independent that the students were losing an academic year because of the delay in holding the exams. But he urged them to be patient.

“We are holding several meetings to solve the problem. We have no authority. It is the government’s decision. We are just coordinating the whole process,” he said.

“We are passing through a transition period before the holding of the examinations. The college authorities and the DU’s controller will fix the exam schedule,” DU Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique told The Independent yesterday.

Asked about any DU official directives on examinations, he said, “The college authorities will tell them about everything including the examinations.”

7 new DU-affiliate colleges

2.4 lakh students worry about academic future

Over 2.40 lakh students of the seven colleges recently affiliated to the Dhaka University (DU) are in a dilemma, as they are not getting any definite information from the authorities regarding the holding of their examinations. The students say the college authorities are yet to officially announce any exam dates even seven months after the affiliation. The students expressed dissatisfaction over Dhaka Universitys failure to give them any official intimation in this regard. The aggrieved students are demanding an official announcement regarding the examination schedule, as they are losing valuable time, but say they are getting no response. They told The Independent they were losing valuable time in their academic career because of this delay and were facing session backlogs, while their friends in other institutions, barring these seven colleges, were ahead of them by one year. The seven newly affiliated colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College and Mirpur Government Bangla College. The students of these colleges, which were under the National University (NU), had even filled forms to take part in exams, when the new affiliation to Dhaka University was announced in February. The change in status led the suspension of the examinations. The students asked why the authorities were preventing them from taking the exams under the earlier arrangement to cover the lost time under the new affiliation. The college authorities said they did not get any official statement from Dhaka University regarding the holding of the examinations. So, they were unable to say anything officially to the students. But they hoped that they would get to know soon. On the other hand, DU authorities said it was taking time due to a transition process. The college authorities along with the DU controller would fix the exam schedule, they added. Meanwhile, the students clashed with police at Shahbagh on Thursday, while raising several demands including the formulation of new policies for the affiliated colleges, and completion of the viva-voce/practical exams of the honours second and fourth years. The clash left several students seriously injured including Titumir College student Siddiqur Rahman, who sustained injuries in his both eyes, after police lobbed a teargas shell on their protest march. Police even filed a case of attempted murder against 1,200 unknown persons in connection with the clash at Shahbagh. The agitating students yesterday formed a human chain and held a demonstration in front of their colleges but the students of Titumir College were refused permission to do so in front of their college. The students are agitating for fulfilment of their demands and the withdrawal of the case. They also want compensation for the injured students. Seven months have passed. We have not been able to sit for our exams. How is this loss going to be covered? asked Bayezid Khan, a Masters student at the Govt Bangla College. The authorities could not officially give us any specific date regarding the exam routine. Why did they go in for new the affiliation without making full preparation? Who will repay for our loss, he added. Enamul Haq, a student of Titumir College, said, The police have injured several of our classmates. Their condition is serious. One had injury in both eyes. Who will compensate them? Now, an attempt is being made to taint our just demands as being anti-government. Our academic life is being hampered. The authorities should have taken full preparation before taking the affiliation decision, he added. The students said they would go for a tougher movement, if their demands were not immediately met. Professor Abu Haider Ahmed Naser, Principal of the Government Titumir College told The Independent, We could not give any official notice regarding the exams, as we did not get any from the DU. We hope we will get it soon. IK Selim Ullah Khandaker, president of BCS General Education Association, admitted to The Independent that the students were losing an academic year because of the delay in holding the exams. But he urged them to be patient. We are holding several meetings to solve the problem. We have no authority. It is the governments decision. We are just coordinating the whole process, he said. We are passing through a transition period before the holding of the examinations. The college authorities and the DUs controller will fix the exam schedule, DU Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique told The Independent yesterday. Asked about any DU official directives on examinations, he said, The college authorities will tell them about everything including the examinations.