7 colleges to get independent institutional framework

An independent institutional framework equivalent to that of a university will be developed for the seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University (DU). To this end, a four-member high-level expert committee has been formed, with the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as its head.

The committee members include the Additional Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education, the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, and UGC member Professor Dr. Tanzimuddin Khan.

According to sources from the Ministry of Education, this committee is expected to complete its designated tasks within the next four months. Relevant individuals have been informed about the committee's formation through letters, and the Ministry of Education has confirmed that an official notification will be issued soon.

It has been reported that the committee will be administratively managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and if necessary, experts with administrative experience in higher education will be added as members.

Regarding the committee’s scope of work, it has been outlined that the committee will review the issues arising from the affiliation of the seven colleges with Dhaka University, following the opinions and information gathered by the committee formed by the Ministry of Education on October 24 of this year.

The committee will consider alternatives for the process of transforming the colleges into an independent institutional framework, while maintaining their identity and ending their affiliation with Dhaka University. The creation of a draft constitution for the new institutional framework will also be a priority.

The committee will focus on improving the quality of education from HSC to Master's level as the main goal of its recommendations. Throughout its work, the committee will maintain communication with senior government officials and engage student-teacher representatives and other stakeholders.

It is known that students from the seven colleges have been protesting for an independent university status, among other demands. In response, the Ministry of Education formed a committee to verify the students' claims. However, the students continued their protests, announcing that they would not cease until their demands were met. On November 6, the ongoing protests were temporarily suspended after an assurance from Education Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud.

The seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University are: Dhaka College, Eden Women’s College, Government Titumir College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Women’s College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardi College, and Kobi Nazrul Government College.