Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said that there is no option but to take legal steps against those private universities that have long been flouting rules and regulations. “Some private universities have failed to fulfil the specified conditions. Some have targeted profits. Some are running illegal campuses. Some have not moved to permanent campuses. It has become difficult to make these universities fall in line despite exerting pressure on them. Now, there is no way left except taking legal action against them,” he said.
The minister was addressing the 5th convocation of the Dhaka International University (DIU) at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital. He called upon private universities to work with the mindset of making contributions to people and providing service and education instead of being driven by the mentality of running businesses and making profits.
Nahid also urged private universities to adopt a liberal attitude in determining all fees—including admission fees—considering people’s socio-economic condition and the present reality.
The minister said the universities should do research work to acquire new knowledge that could address the basic and special problems of the nation.
Akbar Ali Khan, economist and former advisor to the caretaker government, said in his speech that successful persons should take lessons from history because those who fail to do so repeat the same mistakes.
University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Prof. Abdul Mannan, vice-chancellor of DIU KM Mohsin, DIU board of trustees member Shahidul Quadir Patwari, vice-chairman Shamim Haidar Patwari and others were also present.
Prof. Abdul Mannan said: “Some private universities have the tendency of not following the law.
But they will not be able to carry out their activities if they fail to provide quality education.”
He also said that around 4,000 foreign students are now studying in the country's private universities and urged the authorities to ensure that they do not get involved in militant activities.
The DIU offered graduate degrees to 1,611 students at the convocation.