Feature
An afternoon with Dr. C.R. Abrar
Interview taken by Syeda Akhter Dipty
 Dr. C. R. Abrar is a professor of Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka and the co-ordinator of "Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit" (RMMRU). One afternoon last week this writer exchanged views and wanted to know from him about his academic life, research works, thoughts and dreams. The excerpts are given below.
Star Campus: Sir, You have had a colourful academic life. Would you like to share it with us?
Dr. Abrar: I did my schooling from St. Gregory's School and then, in class seven got admitted to the then 'Mymensingh Cadet College'. I had top-ranking positions (stand) in both S.S.C and H.S.C. Then I did my honours from Dhaka University and Masters' from Sussex University, UK. Returning from Sussex, I worked as a teacher at Dhaka University for few years. Before I started as a full-fledged teacher, I completed my Ph.D from Griffith University and post Doctorate from Fletcher School of Land and Diplomacy.
Star Campus: What made you choose to be a teacher?
Dr. Abrar: I come from a business family. But I was not attracted to that profession. Besides, I was engaged in cultural movements and left student politics all through my student life. 'Bangladesh Lekhok Shibir' was a progressive forum during the early '70s, which worked as a committee for civil rights and legal aids against the oppressive 'Rokkhi Bahini' of that time. As a member of this committee I came into contact with talented and contending characters like -- Badruddin Umar, Sikandar - Abu-Zafar, Enayetullah Khan, Ahmed Sofa, Ahmed Sharif and others. They opened a people-centric world before me, taught me to question the existing status quo and to hope for alternative possibilities. Within this mindset, I was attracted by career options like journalism, lawyer or teacher. Ultimately the last option won as it coincided with my academic performance and because of its attractive nature of independence and vibrancy.
Star Campus: What, according to you, should be the commitments of a teacher to students and society?
Dr Abrar: Teachers should remain committed to the welfare of students and society. If teachers act according to their commitments, they can make students do wonders. Moreover, it is a teacher who has the principal role to play to make his/her students aware of the vast deprivation and polarization within the society and make them dream of bringing about qualitative and meaningful changes.
Stat Campus: is Rmmru-a commitment to society and country?
Dr Abrar: Working as a teacher I had some time to spare after classes. Me, along with some friends decided to make fruitful use of this time and create our own niche. There were many NGOs out there working for refugees, migrant workers, displaced persons and rights of the minorities. But we felt the need of research works to understand these phenomena. Primary research on 'Rohinga Refugees' and labour migrants demonstrated the gap in policies undertaken for these communities and that led us do our advocacy works. Gradually, we involved students in these activities through our 'Young Researchers' Forum', trained them overseas and arranged other activities using the 'Higher Education Link' - with Oxford University. Such initiatives to bring changes within our small domain were responses to our commitments to society and students.
Star Campus: How do you judge the quality of present day students with students of your time?
Dr Abrar: Regarding their academic quality, present day students have more acumen, though to some extent, their progressive ideological motivation has abated. We experienced the Vietnam War, the Liberation of South Africa and our own in 1971 and possessed some exclusive idealism and zeal to bring changes. But times have changed and global and political aspects are now more conformist and career oriented. Saying so does not necessarily mean that they are to blame; they are just being respondent to the demand of the present time.
Star Campus: What do you think about the debate on quality of education and skill development - issues between the supporters of public and private universities?
Dr Abrar: I am not in favour of such dichotomy. With the increasing demand for education and limited capacity of public universities to cater them alone, we cannot ignore the need of private universities, on one hand. On the other, the subjects most private universities offer are catering to the demand of job market. Compared to those subjects, public university students are doing no less in the job market.
Star Campus: How do you think the quality of education in public universities can be developed?
Dr Abrar: The university authorities should stop increasing the number of students and maintain a proper teacher-student ratio.
Problems like political pressures in academic activities, scarcity of quality books in seminar libraries and lack of equipment in science department laboratories must be looked into. Last but not least, accountability of teachers should be ensured and students them selves must be earnest about their right to get quality education.
Star Campus: Sir, please say a few words about Star Campus.
Dr. Abrar: I am delighted to notice that a leading English newspaper of the country is publishing a weekly magazine focusing on campus issues and issues related to student affairs. This acted as a forum for the young minds of different academic institutions belonging to different disciplines and backgrounds, to interact with each other and express their views. The wide ranges of issues that has been covered in the last one year, testifies that it is filling up the vacuum that existed so far in this regard. But I also feel that there is much scope for improvements in terms of identifying issues to be covered and also the quality of write-ups. At last I congratulate 'Star Campus' on its completion of one year.
Star Campus: Thank you very much for giving us your valuable time for Star Campus.
Dr Abrar: Thank you.
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