Ordinance Approved for 'Dhaka Central University'

In a historic move for the country’s higher education sector, the Advisory Council has officially approved the ordinance to establish "Dhaka Central University" by integrating the seven government colleges of the capital. The news, which reached the protesting students on Thursday afternoon, sparked immediate celebrations across the city's academic hubs.

Md. Mahbubul Haque Patwary, Additional Secretary (Planning) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, confirmed to The Daily Campus that the ordinance was passed during the Advisory Council meeting today. While the specific date for the formal gazette notification is yet to be announced, the administrative hurdle for the new university has been cleared.

The Moment of Victory at Dhaka College

The atmosphere turned emotional around 2:00 PM today when students gathered in front of Dhaka College received a phone call from the Ministry of Education. As word spread that the ordinance was a reality, students burst into cheers, chanting slogans in support of the newly formed "Dhaka Central University."

Smriti Akter, a student of the Islamic History and Culture Department at Eden Mohila College, shared the excitement: "Education Adviser Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar (C R Abrar) himself called us to deliver the good news of the ordinance's approval. This is the culmination of our long struggle for an independent identity."

Key Features of the Proposed University

The transition from being affiliated with Dhaka University to becoming a standalone centralized university is expected to solve several long-standing issues:

• Administrative Independence: The seven colleges (Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College) will now function under a unified central administration.

• Academic Calendar: A dedicated controller office for Dhaka Central University is expected to eliminate the "session jam" and result delays that plagued the previous affiliation system.

• Autonomous Curriculum: The university will have the power to design its own modern curriculum tailored to the current job market.

What’s Next for the Students?

While the ordinance is approved, the Ministry will now move toward the implementation phase, which includes:

1. Appointment of a Vice-Chancellor (VC): A search committee will likely be formed to appoint the first leadership of the university.

2. Organogram Finalization: Defining the administrative structure and the roles of the existing principals of the seven colleges.

3. Logistical Integration: Setting up the central registrar and examination controller offices, likely to be headquartered at one of the larger campuses like Dhaka College or Titumir College.

Students have expressed their gratitude to the interim government for addressing their demands and have started returning to their respective campuses to celebrate the formal end of their affiliation-related grievances.