Decoupling of 7-college in wake of unrest: Why this conflict

In the wake of several conflicts and unrest, seven affiliated government colleges have separated from Dhaka University (DU) after eight years. These seven government colleges in Dhaka are being freed from the affiliation of Dhaka University in compliance with the demands of the students. These educational institutions are- Dhaka College, Eden College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Titumir College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Shahid Suhrawardy College, and Mirpur Government Bangla College.

On Monday (January 27), DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan and the principals of the colleges made this decision in a meeting. As a result, the admission process of students of seven colleges under Dhaka University is being stopped from the 2024-25 session, that is, from this year.

What is the background to the conflict between Dhaka University students and seven other government colleges that forced the authorities to take this decision? Students of seven colleges have been protesting against Dhaka University authorities for some time now, demanding a solution to their problems.

What are the students' demands?

The students' demands are - to abolish the unreasonable quota system in the admission test of seven colleges from the 2024-25 session, not to admit students beyond the capacity of the classrooms, to admit students taking into account the teacher-student ratio, to deduct marks for wrong answers in the admission test, and to deposit the admission fee in a new account other than Dhaka University in coordination with the expert committee formed by the ministry to ensure transparency of the admission fee of the seven colleges.

However, experts see administrative complications, delays in publishing the exam schedule and results, and the identity crisis of students as the main reasons for this conflict.

They say that the large number of students studying in the seven colleges, which amounts to about 200,000, has created additional pressure on the Dhaka University administration. On the other hand, the colleges' delays in conducting the exams and results have created frustration among the students. The problems have become increasingly complex and have led to an explosive situation today.

Although the students of the seven colleges initially welcomed the decision to affiliate, they later started accusing DU authorities of administrative inefficiency and failure to provide timely services. They feel that even though they are affiliated with DU, they are not getting the benefits of that relationship. The students complain that their exam dates are not being properly coordinated, authorities are taking a long time to publish the results, and they are not getting adequate academic services from the university. This is harming their academic future. They are not getting education and services at the same level as Dhaka University. There are also various disparities in teacher recruitment, curriculum, and academic facilities.

On the other hand, the students of Dhaka University have been unhappy with the affiliation of the seven colleges from the beginning. They claim that the academic activities of the students of the main campus are being disrupted by the administrative activities of the seven colleges, including keeping them under the same educational system without making separate arrangements for the students of the seven colleges. The problems of the colleges are also harming the quality of their education, identity, status, and reputation. Due to administrative inefficiency, students were forced to repeatedly protest as long-term problems were not resolved. As a result, the relationship between Dhaka University and the students of the seven colleges gradually turned bitter.

Abdur Rahman, a student of Dhaka College, the focal person of the team to convert the seven colleges into universities, said: "Dhaka University has become an authoritarian institution. We have been protesting for a long time demanding the cancellation of the affiliation of the seven colleges and the establishment of an independent university. We demanded to conduct the admission test under the independent university from the current academic year, but Dhaka University authorities did not do that. On the contrary, it has issued a notification for the admission of students exceeding the capacity.

What is in the new decision?

The previous decision regarding the admission process of the students of the seven affiliated government colleges is being brought forward by one year. It has also been decided not to take admission under Dhaka University from the current year or the 2024-25 academic year. Following the students' demands, the meeting also strongly recommended that the activities of the next academic year be conducted through an expert committee formed by the Ministry of Education on December 29 last year.

From the 2024-25 academic year, an expert committee formed by the ministry will decide on all matters, including determining the number of seats and admission fees, as per the demands of students. The meeting also decided that the university administration will be responsible for the students who are currently under the ongoing education program at Dhaka University so that their educational life is not affected in any way.

How will the activities of the seven colleges continue?

Dhaka College Principal AKM Elias said that the seven affiliated colleges will not be with Dhaka University, nor with the National University. A separate structure will be created for these seven colleges after discussing with teachers and academicians.

He said that students will be admitted to the seven affiliated government colleges in the new academic year only after a separate institutional structure is decided. "The matter of admission will be decided in the separate new structure that the government is thinking of for the colleges. Dhaka University has agreed to provide any assistance if they need it."

Background to the conflict

This tension and conflict between the students of Dhaka University and seven colleges had been creating tension and suffering across the capital for some time. On January 15, protests and counter-protests by students of seven colleges on the DU campus sparked a new wave of tension. Students from seven colleges protested in front of the DU administrative building. They demanded that the release of examination results be expedited and administrative complications be resolved. In response, some students of Dhaka University held a counter-programme and questioned the affiliation of the seven colleges.

Last Sunday (January 26), at least ten students were injured in clashes between the two sides throughout the night. The Nilkhet and New Market areas turned into a battlefield. The area shook at midnight with the firing of sound grenades and tear gas shells. Both sides remained in a face-to-face position throughout the night. Brick-throwing and chase-counter-chase continued intermittently.

The protesting students said that on Sunday afternoon, a group of students from seven colleges went to talk to Dhaka University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamun Ahmed to find out the progress of their five-point demands, including the abolition of the unreasonable quota system in the admission test. He became annoyed when they all rushed into Professor Mamun Ahmed's office together. A video of the time is available on social media. In it, Mamun Ahmed is seen telling the students: "I told you that only two students could come, But you entered my room with a group."

On the other side, a student said: "Two people can't explain everything." Then Professor Mamun said: "Why can't you say it? I will speak with you as a representative of the students.’ The student said: ‘They will not accept it, sir.’ Then Professor Mamun said: ‘That is not my business.’ Then a student said: ‘Why are you becoming so aggressive?’ Then Professor Mamun said: ‘There is enough reason to be aggressive.’ Then the student said: ‘The way you have become aggressive, this is not acceptable behavior.’ Then Professor Mamun said: ‘Of course it is acceptable behavior. Please forgive me, I will not listen to you. I did not sit here to listen to you again and again.’

Students from seven colleges were angered by Professor Mamun’s behavior. They gathered in front of Dhaka College around 6pm. After 10pm, the students left the science lab intersection and started marching towards the Dhaka University campus to surround Professor Mamun’s residence. At 10:30pm, they reached in front of the university’s Mukti and Ganatra Toran, adjacent to the Nilkhet intersection. At one point, they announced that they were marching for the residence of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Upon receiving this news, Dhaka University students took up positions with sticks in front of Sir A.F. Rahman Hall. Meanwhile, the police barricaded the road on one side of the arch.

At one point, when a chase and counter-chase began between the two sides, after 12 midnight, the police took a position in the middle and fired sound grenades and tear gas shells. Even after this, the students from both sides took positions on both sides. The chase and counter-chase continued in stages. Students from seven colleges protested by setting fire to the road from Gausia to Dhaka College.

Tension spread when Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, along with coordinators Abdul Quader, Hasib Al Islam, and co-coordinator Mobashiruzzaman, tried to talk with the students. At 12:15am, students from Eden Women's College came out and took a stand in support of students from seven colleges. Then, students from seven colleges withdrew from their position, announcing a blockade of Dhaka city from 9am on Monday and after the daylong unrest, the decoupling began.