Dhaka University is set to celebrate its 102nd founding anniversary through various programmes today, while the university authorities on Wednesday decided to introduce graduation festivals to replace the students’ ‘rag day’ culture.
The first of the university’s founding anniversary programmes will begin with the hoisting of the national, the university and the hall flags at the central playground along with the performance of the national anthem at 10:00am. A cake cutting ceremony will also be held there.
A research-publication fair will also be organised at the central playground marking the day.
A discussion titled Research and Innovation: Industry-Academia Cooperation will be held at 11:00am at the Teacher-Student Centre Auditorium.
Dhaka University, which is considered the country’s highest echelon for academic excellence, started its academic activities on July 1, 1921 with 12 departments, three faculties, 60 teachers, 877 students, three residential halls and about 600 acres of land.
he decision of replacing ‘rag day’ with graduation festival, meanwhile, was taken in a meeting of the syndicate held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on Wednesday night, with vice-chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
As per the decision, the inaugural function of the graduation festival will be held on the premises of the departments and institutes.
DU public relations office director Mahmud Alam issued a press release in this regard.
‘Students will be able to hold rallies at the TSC keeping the movement of pedestrians normal. Loud music should be avoided during classes. The cultural programme has to be completed by 10:00pm on the day of the festival. Students should refrain from activities that tarnish the image of the university,’ reads the press release.
‘The departmental chair or the director of the institute and the student adviser will meet with their respective students to finalise the programme of the festival,’ it added.
Earlier on September 22, 2020, the university authorities announced a ban on the ‘rag day’ culture, terming it ‘inhumane, disrespectful and undisciplined’.
A committee was also formed with pro-vice-chancellor (administration) as convener, proctor as secretary and deans of the faculties of arts, biology and business studies as members to formulate policies to organise events, festivals or colourful rallies for celebrating graduation festival.
– With New Age input