Lack in Research and Bright in Struggle

 

In the development of Bengali middle class in modern higher education, formation of educated nation and freedom movement Dhaka University has completed its centenary by spreading glorious traditions and achievements.

The first higher education institution in East Bengal was established on 1 July 1921 in the green precincts of Ramna in the wake of the political reaction to the abolition of the partition of Bengal during the colonial period.

This university has given the nation the gift of an independent country.It is not an exaggeration to say that independent Bangladesh was born in Dhaka University.

Although the 1952 language movement, the education movement of the sixties, 1969 the anti-Ayub movement, the mass uprising of 1971 and the freedom struggle of 1971 played a pivotal role in every democratic struggle of the Bengalis, the centenary did not provide much to the nation in higher education and research. Such a situation has arisen due to lack of support from the rulers before and after independence as an institution of higher learning while keeping autonomy intact.

After the independence of the country, Dhaka University got the right of autonomy but did not get state support. At a time when the university was supposed to be rich in quality education and research, the state did not and could not support it due other exigencies of the state.  Research at pre-independence Dhaka University was more or less not bad. But later, especially after 1975, it totally collapsed, there was no effort to restore it till to date.

After independence, Bangabandhu started his journey with the autonomy of Dhaka University. Bangabandhu wanted full freedom in the practice of knowledge in the university. But after 1975, political appointment of Vice Chancellor has destroyed Dhaka University's glorious tradition.

In the half-century of independent Bangladesh, politics of 'petty interests' has taken place around the university, which was established during British colonial period.

Personally, I think, the political interference of the ruling party in the post-independence period has destroyed the tradition of the Dhaka University.DU should keep quality education and research and also stop partisan appointment of Vice-Chancellor and professors.

After teaching 40 years at the Canadian and Bahamas University and a former student of DU, I have following suggestion for building and to ensure quality education by expanding and incorporating the field of research ahead of the next 50 years of Dhaka University as follows:

I would strongly recommend is restoring the full autonomy to the university authority in the nomination and selection of VCs, ii. Assistant Professors in all Subjects should be appointed with Ph.D. and publications in 3 peered reviewed scholarly international journals. All teaching faculty has to maintain their scholarship and research in the respective fields, iii. Political affiliation of teaching faculties has to be stopped totally. Creating skilled human resources for the fourth industrial revolution should be our main objectives and motto.

This is the wish to return to our golden past on the 100th birthday.Dhaka University is still the address of our expectations and dreams.


Omer Selim Sher is a retired Professor of Economics at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada, and a researcher on South Asian politics.