::: Star Campus :::

Spotlight

Amanat Ahmed

After a 55-day-long conspicuous emptiness, Dhaka University (finally!!!) recommenced flourishing with youthful enthusiasm and excitement. Whatever the reason for the closure or however the campus was reopened, this incurrence indeed served as a great sigh of relief for the young minds of the institution.

It is very unfortunate that the adverse effect of political impasse falls directly on the academic activities of Dhaka University. The sanctity of this premiere educational institution has very often been perverted by the ill-motivated politics of our country. In the current outset, the institution was opened due to the imposition of the State of Emergency. Had there not been the declaration of this enforcement, what would have happened is beyond my imagination.

However, in this crowd of bad incidents, one good incident is that the university is now open. This means all the suffering students of DU will be able to continue their academic activities at least for the while. The classes have already started in full swing and the examination has been rescheduled very tightly.

Some feelings
As I went through chitchats with students from different fields of study, different individuals expressed their thoughts and feelings differently. But the main theme remains the same, continuing their education without any disturbance.

Shariful Islam (4th Year, Department of Mathematics): I think that something must be done regarding politics amongst both students' and teachers because it is gobbling down our institution.

Ushashi (4th Year, Department of Finance): I am happy that the university is finally open. The only problem is that our final examination got delayed. I hope that the university authority will take necessary measures to hold the examination at the earliest possible date. Any further delay may result in severe session jam.

Tani (4th Year, Department of AIS): At last the university is open. Certainly it serves as a blessing for us. But I think the time has come to seriously think about this sort of haltages and do something to block it effectively.

Rashed (4th Year, Department of AIS): As a would-be business graduate, gaining work experience paves the way for us to ascend to the top. But these unwanted yet expected halts dent our career ambition very badly.

Ashfaque (3rd Year, Department of Microbiology): I don't think that calling for emergency is a good sign for our country where we are practicing democracy; but this had made one thing possible: classes have started in our campus after almost three and a half months. We are on our way to start our 3rd year final examination from 20th January, with a packed schedule. Should I term this state of emergency as a blessing for us?

Sumaiya (3rd Year, Department of Computer Science & Engineering): Why is it so hard to believe that our university has actually reopened? Oh yes…the state of emergency is there right now. So let's see…

Smita (Department of Psychology): Obviously I am happy with the reopening of the university. But who will compensate for the loss I incurred?

Urmika (2nd Year, Department of Economics): We are delighted that the university is finally open, but to my understanding it could have been done much earlier than this.

“Academic activities should not be hampered at all. It should not be mixed with politics. Earning knowledge must not be intertwined with politics. Education should be above all. In future no such thing should be done so that academic activities are stalled.”

Professor Jagadish Chandra Shukla Das, Chairman, Department of Accounting & Information Systems

“I am glad that at last the university authority has decided to reopen it after a period of about 3 months.

This unexpected break has brought about a tremendous loss to our student community. Their academic session has been deferred and examinations have been postponed. Existing session-jams have been widened. Their entry into the job market has been delayed. Their families will be required to bear additional educational expenses. In order to minimize their loss, the authority should arrange additional classes.”

Dr. Shaker Ahmed, Professor, Department of Management Studies

Some Damage-minimising Propositions
The unnecessary closure of Dhaka University is not new to its students. Although it happens every now and then, but unfortunately for students like us, there has been no effective step in stopping this regrettable affair. However, a few suggestions can be made to the concerned authority and individuals. But making all these suggestions will go in vain if proper attention is not given.

First and foremost, politics should be kept away from academic activities. It must not be intertwined with the education process. Both the political powerhouses should come forward for this cause. All parties regardless of their position have to encourage their student wings in studies. Furthermore, the administration must be strict in not letting this sort of situation to occur.

However, it is almost for sure that the above proposition will not be implemented. I will not go into the debate of why it cannot be done. Nevertheless few damage-minimizing steps can be taken. One would be reducing the vacations. There is a total of 137 days of vacation and holidays (including weekly holidays). Since we enjoy a good number of holidays in the form of Ramadan and Puja vacations, both the summer and winter vacations could be curtailed. The gap between exams and the length of examination preparatory leave can also be curtailed. Moreover, the viva and the practical examinations can be taken before the start of the final examination using the study break period.

In The End
After a long break the academic activities of Dhaka University finally resume. Of course, the students are happy to get back to that familiar fold. But with this contentment there arises many questions in the young minds that need to be answered.

Distressing but true, every student studying here started his/her DU life preparing themselves for the fact that s/he will never be able to finish graduation in time. Will it continue to be that way? Will this premiere educational institution of the country be washed away because of the political instability? Will the glory fade away completely and take refuge in history?

Not a single sensible and conscious citizen of this country would want the answers of the above questions to be 'Yes'. Not a single non-partisan student would like university to be closed because of any invalid and student welfare-disoriented reason.

If that is so, then we must act collectively to make it free of the ill effects of politics. We have to come forward with a positive outlook. It is always better to be late than never. We still have time to bring back those glorious days of this 85-year old institution. May be one day it will regain its old status of being 'The Oxford of the East.'