Dhaka University authorities have expressed concern over several recent activities of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), saying they are inconsistent with the university’s laws, regulations, policies and administrative structure.
In a statement, the university said DUCSU had installed a monument titled “Nirbhik July” beside the DUCSU building, near the Arts Faculty and in front of the Central Library, without obtaining approval from the university’s Syndicate or the Vice-Chancellor.
The authorities said the university administration itself is commemorating the July uprising and had laid the foundation stone of a July memorial at the Mall Chattar on August 5 in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, university representatives and families of those killed during the uprising.
Citing the Dhaka University Order, 1973, the university said responsibility for supervising, maintaining and controlling its property rests with the Syndicate. It also said the university’s ordinances require the students’ union to take decisions subject to the Vice-Chancellor’s directions.
The university also objected to the display of photographs of former Pakistan Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah and then student leader Abdul Malek at the DUCSU museum, arguing that displaying individuals whose roles are viewed as conflicting with the history of the Language Movement and Bangladesh’s Liberation War is unacceptable.
The authorities further criticized DUCSU for launching a website to evaluate university teachers without authorization. They said teacher evaluation is an important academic and institutional matter and cannot be conducted independently by an individual, organization or student union.
According to the university, it already has an approved policy for Teaching Evaluation, which is being implemented. It also alleged that the DUCSU website had exposed teachers’ personal information and said legal action could be taken over such disclosure.
The university warned that there is “no scope for establishing dual administration” at Dhaka University. While recognizing DUCSU as an important student representative body, the authorities said all of its activities must remain within the university’s legal, regulatory and administrative framework.
The statement warned that attempts to bypass university authority or establish parallel structures would be firmly resisted. The university said it would take strict administrative action against those responsible for unauthorized construction or initiatives to establish separate administrative mechanisms.
