The Dhaka University (DU) is going to see a different style of convocation for its tens of thousands of ‘deprived’ graduates who have passed during the three decades – 1960’s to early 90s – when there was almost no convocation held in DU.
The primary preparations for the grand arrangement are going on after the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) made a proposal in this regard to the authorities recently, DU official sources said.
The necessary official processes are underway as the topic was discussed in the Deans Committee of the university with a positive response. Now the matter is waiting for the official approval of the DU Academic Council.
While talking about the issue a few members of the Academic Council expressed their positive attitude to hold such a special convocation. They told this correspondent that they will stand for the proposal if it would be placed in the next meeting.
Office sources said the proposal would be placed in the next Academic Council’s meeting, though it was scheduled to be placed in the Wednesday’s session.
DUAA secretary general Raquibuddin Ahmed said during the long period from 60s to 90s no convocation could be held for various historic reasons including the 60s’ educational movements, 1971 liberation war and political instability after the independence.
“Getting the certificates through convocation was a dream for a graduate, but unfortunately most of our graduates were deprived of it,” Raquib added.
The DUAA Secretary General mentioned that the present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Health Adviser to the Prime Minister Prof. Dr Syed Mudasser Ali, Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed and Sheikh Fazlul
Karim Selim, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir, present Cabinet secretary M Abdul Aziz, Inspector General of
Police Nur Mohammad, PSC chairman Sadat Hossain and all the present
PSC members, and noted litterateur Humayun Ahmed are among the
students who did not get any convocation to attend.
All the six living Vice-Chancellors of Dhaka University, including present VC Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, also did not have the opportunity to receive their certificates of graduation from the university through convocation.
Raquibuddin said, “We think it would be a great pleasure for several lakhs former students of the Dhaka University if we can arrange such a special convocation”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also been informed about the special
convocation of the University of Dhaka.
The DUAA secretary general told this correspondent that the Prime Minister came to know about the thinking over the special convocation when a 33-member delegation of DUAA met her at her office on August 12. The Prime Minister was pleased to know of our proposal on the special convocation, he said.
The DUAA is expecting that the special convocation is very much possible to be arranged by next January or February.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said “We will follow the rules and regulations of the university to consider the proposal on the special convocation”.
The VC said that arranging such a big event like special convocation will need huge fund and lot of time. “So, special convocation depends on many things. Funding and timing will be the two main challenges,” he said.
It may be mentioned that between the years of 1960 to 1998, convocation was held only once in 1970. But it was too small to accommodate all the
students then.
Earlier, on March of 1964, a convocation was organised but the then students denied to take certificates from the hand of Monaem Khan, the then Governor of East-Pakistan and also the Chancellor of Dhaka University.
Later, the arrangement was obstructed by the agitating students following which 26 students of the university were expelled.
