National University Prepares for Second Convocation, VC Hints at Timeline

After 33 years since its establishment, the National University is going to organize its second convocation. The university authorities have already completed all necessary preparations to hold the event in a grand manner.

Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah, a professor of Dhaka University, took charge as the new Vice-Chancellor of the National University after the mass uprising on August 5. Since assuming office, he has initiated various academic and administrative reform activities. As part of this, he has taken special initiative to organize the long-awaited convocation in response to the longstanding demand and expectation of the students.

In an interview with The Daily Campus on Saturday (April 4), the Vice-Chancellor said, “We have completed all preparations for the convocation. We wanted to hold it last year, but it was delayed because the Chief Adviser could not find time. However, we will organize the second convocation in December this year, Inshallah. We have already requested a convenient time from the Prime Minister. Once we receive the time, we will announce the exact date.”

The National University began its journey in 1992. In the past 33 years, it has held only one convocation. As a result, lakhs of graduates who passed from its affiliated colleges have been deprived of participating in the convocation. They also face harassment while collecting their original certificates. Students of the university have staged protests several times demanding the convocation.

“We have completed all preparations for the convocation. We wanted to hold it last year, but it was delayed because the Chief Adviser could not find time. However, we will organize the second convocation in December this year, Inshallah. We have already requested a convenient time from the Prime Minister. Once we receive the time, we will announce the exact date.” — Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah, Vice-Chancellor, National University

The first convocation was held on January 17, 2017, after 25 years of the university’s establishment. It took place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the presence of the Chancellor and President of the university. Even though the authorities decided to hold the convocation several times in the following 8 years, they could not implement it. Graduates are demanding that the convocation be held regularly so they no longer have to face harassment while collecting their original certificates.

It is known that the first convocation was organized in 2017 during the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Harun-or-Rashid. No previous Vice-Chancellor had taken such initiative. In the first convocation, 4,932 registered graduates who passed between 1998 and 2012 participated. Eight students were awarded gold medals for their outstanding results in bachelor’s and master’s examinations.

Currently, the National University has more than 2,000 affiliated colleges. Thousands of graduates pass every year but remain deprived of the convocation ceremony. According to rules, students cannot collect their original certificates without a convocation, even after completing their studies and receiving results. They have to manage with provisional certificates issued by the university. However, many foreign universities do not accept provisional certificates for higher studies. Even if they do, they often impose a condition to submit the original certificate within 6 months to 1 year.

Graduates of affiliated colleges receive provisional certificates from their respective institutions, but they must come to the main campus in Gazipur to collect original certificates. This causes significant harassment and extra expenses for graduates coming from distant parts of the country. If the convocation is held regularly, they will be able to collect original certificates from their own colleges.

Shamim Rahman, a graduate of Noakhali Government College, shared his experience of harassment while collecting his certificate. He told The Daily Campus, “I am trying to apply to foreign universities for higher studies. If I receive an offer letter, I will need the original certificate. I could do all this from home, but I have to go to Gazipur for the original certificate from the National University. It involves a lot of hassle. If the convocation was held regularly, I could have collected it from my own college.”

When asked, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah said, “Although 33 years have passed since the establishment of the National University, only one convocation has been held. Since the university is very large, organizing a convocation requires time. However, we have already completed all preparations. Accordingly, we are planning to hold the convocation at the end of this year, that is, in December. We have already sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking permission. Once we receive approval, we will fix the date and begin the work.”