Today is the 103rd anniversary of Dhaka University, the ‘Oxford of the East’. On this day in 1921, this institution made its debut through formal education programs. It was the only higher education institution in then British Bengal. This university was established to advance the education of the people of this backward region. Although its early activities earned it a worldwide reputation, the institution has come under heavy criticism over the past few decades for its acute student housing crisis, lack of research, and analog services. But last year, Professor Dr. After ASM Maqsood Kamal took charge as the Vice Chancellor, the university has seen a touch of change. Meanwhile, a day-long colorful program has been taken up today on the occasion of the foundation anniversary. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a message on this occasion. He said, along with intensive practice of knowledge and science related to the country’s history and heritage, Dhaka University’s exemplary contribution to socio-economic development and creation of the nation state of Bangladesh will be forever remembered.
Vice-Chancellor Maqsood Kamal congratulated the countrymen. He congratulated all the university family including current and former teachers and students. He said, this beloved educational institution has passed the century with the glorious history of knowledge acquisition and distribution. Dhaka University has always taken the lead in all the struggles of the masses, including the national language movement, the ever-glorious liberation war.
Eminent citizens of the country said that the institute has been called ‘Oxford of the East’ due to maintaining high standards in education since its inception. Besides, it also fulfills historical political responsibilities. Within 26 years of the establishment of the institution, the subcontinent was freed from the British. Two countries named Pakistan and India were created. Dhaka University played a role in that anti-British movement. Within 24 years of the creation of Pakistan, independent-sovereign Bangladesh emerged. From the year after the creation of Pakistan, this university dedicated itself to the movement for the creation of a separate nation. In a word, the country is independent and those who have played a role in the formation and management of Bangladesh after independence have been produced by Dhaka University for 50 years.
Ramana was the most elite and beautiful area in Dhaka at that time. This Dhaka University was built on about 600 acres of land in that area. At the time of establishment there were three faculties and 12 departments. It began its journey as a fully residential university. There were residential halls – Salimullah Muslim Hall, Dhaka Hall – which is now Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall and Jagannath Hall. In the first academic year, the number of students in various departments was 877 and there were only 60 teachers. And after a hundred years this university has become Mahiruh. At present there are 13 faculties, 83 departments, 12 institutes, 56 research bureaus and centers. 20 residential halls and 3 hostels. And 37 thousand 18 students and 2008 teachers. There are 4 thousand 455 officers and employees. Recently the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) degree is also being awarded. However, even if the 600-acre campus is constructed, its current area is 275.83 acres. Recently the government allotted 51.99 acres of land to this university in Purbachal. There are 347 Trust Funds in the names of distinguished persons to give medals, scholarships and honors to meritorious students.
Those concerned believe that Dhaka University is moving forward with various crises including the admission of over capacity students against the insufficient budget. Apart from this, the institution is lagging behind academically as well. Students are living with the housing crisis. Classes are going on in the Mandhata period classroom. The situation in the laboratory is also the same. Various services for students are also not modern. Students are facing physical and mental crisis due to political interference of student organizations in residential halls and campuses. There is a decline in sports and cultural activities. There are also complaints of a section of teachers not attending classes regularly and focusing more on political and diversionary activities than on academic activities.
However, after Prof. Maqsood Kamal took charge of the Vice-Chancellor last year, there was a touch of change in the university. University has conducted research fair and innovation fair. Training was organized for the first time for teachers. A database of residential students was created to solve the student housing crisis. The Vice-Chancellor has announced the installation of e-gates at the entrance of the halls to free the outsiders and illegal students from the residential halls. Where university smart card has to be punched to enter. To prevent students from dropping out, scholarships have been introduced for first year students. As a result, Dhaka University (DU) has recently made a surprise appearance in the list of top universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based education and research organization. So that the position of the university is 554th.
Educationist M Tariq Ahsan, a member of the National Curriculum Development and Reformation Core Committee and a professor at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of Dhaka University, told Yugantar that Dhaka University has improved a lot in recent times. The proof of which is the improvement of the university in the global ranking. But the main function of the university is to produce knowledge. And this requires research. On the other hand, the allocation should be increased for the growth of research. The allocation in this year’s budget has increased slightly. It should be increased.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maqsud Kamal told Yugantar, We want Dhaka University to become a modern university. We have many challenges. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has a positive attitude towards our university. As a result, we hope that we will be able to overcome our challenges with more new initiatives.
Today’s event: This year the theme of the day is ‘Higher Education for Skill Development of Young Generation’. Vice-Chancellor Maqsood Kamal will inaugurate the various programs of the University Day by appearing as the chief guest at Payra Chatwar in front of the student-teacher center at 10 am today.
According to the programme, teachers, students, officials and employees from all the halls and hostels of the university will gather at Smriti Chirantan Chatwar with a procession at 9:30 am. From there, at 9:45 am, under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Maqsood Kamal, the teachers, students, alumni, officers and employees of the university will take a colorful procession to Payra Chatthar. There will be hoisting of the national flag, flag of the university and halls, flying of pigeons, balloons and festoons, cutting of the cake and the participation of teachers and students of the music department will perform the theme song and opening song of the university. After the inauguration ceremony, a discussion session will be held at 10:30 AM in the Student-Teacher Center auditorium on the theme of the University Day, ‘Higher Education for Skill Development of Young Generation’. At the beginning of the discussion meeting, the cover of the 2nd volume of the book titled ‘Dhaka University, History and Heritage’ published on the occasion of the day will be unveiled.