Over 44 lakh university students in the country are facing the threat of a significant session jam as academic activities in public universities have been stalled for more than two months due to the combined effects of teachers’ strikes and widespread student movements.
Although the country’s situation has somewhat stabilised following the government’s fall and the acceptance of teachers’ demands, higher education activities have yet to resume.
The crisis has deepened with the mass resignation of top administrative officials from all public universities, including vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, and treasurers. This has left public universities in a state of administrative paralysis.
The issue began on 1 July, when public university teachers, officers, and employees initiated a comprehensive work stoppage demanding the cancellation of the universal pension scheme, “Prottoy.” Simultaneously, students launched protests calling for reforms to the quota system in government jobs. Despite the differing demands, the sustained movements by both teachers and students resulted in the complete suspension of classes, exams, and administrative functions across the universities.
As student protests escalated into a broader movement leading to widespread violence, the government temporarily closed all universities and educational institutions. Amid mounting pressure, the government swiftly accepted the teachers’ demands and cancelled the Prottoy scheme on 3 August. However, the then-government was forced to resign on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising.
Following the formation of an interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, schools and colleges gradually resumed classes, but public universities remained in a state of limbo.
According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, despite an announcement by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate on 7 August that all educational institutions would reopen, public universities could not resume operations due to the ongoing crisis.
The situation worsened after the mass resignation of vice-chancellors and other top officials from various universities.
Until 29 August, 28 vice-chancellors, 12 pro-vice-chancellors, and seven treasurers have resigned from their positions across 55 public universities, leaving over 44 lakh students at risk of session jams. Although new vice-chancellors have been appointed at Dhaka University, the National University, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, and some universities have been instructed to resume operations with senior faculty in charge, academic activities have not yet resumed.
In major institutions like Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and the National University, classes remain suspended despite the appointment of new vice-chancellors.
Universities like the Islamic University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Begum Rokeya University, Sheikh Hasina University in Netrokona and Islamic Arabic University, are also yet to resume classes.
A few universities, such as Sylhet Agricultural University, Noakhali Science and Technology University, and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, are expected to start classes and administrative activities in early September.
Although classes have resumed at several universities, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jahangirnagar University, and Bangladesh University of Professionals, student attendance remains low.
Students concerned due to uncertainty in higher education
The uncertainty in higher education has left students concerned about the completion of their studies. With the academic calendar disrupted by the prolonged suspension of activities, students who had only recently overcome session jams caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are now facing the prospect of new delays.
National University and Islamic Arabic University, with the highest number of students, are among the worst affected. Despite the appointment of a new vice-chancellor at the National University, academic activities have not resumed, placing over 31.7 lakh students at risk of session jams. The Islamic Arabic University is also unable to start classes due to the lack of a vice-chancellor, affecting the educational lives of over 3.11 lakh students across 1,674 affiliated madrasas.
Dhaka University, despite having a new vice-chancellor, has yet to resume classes, putting approximately 37,000 students at risk of session delays.
Both teachers and students agree that the most urgent need is to fill the vacant administrative positions at universities to restore normalcy. The lack of key officials, such as vice-chancellors and proctors, has led to academic and administrative chaos, while safety concerns have also emerged on campuses.
Speaking to the Daily Sun, Mizanur Rahman, a master’s student in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, expressed his frustration, “We were supposed to start our second semester after Eid, following a short break. However, the campus was shut down due to the teachers’ movement and our Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Now, a month has passed since the government was toppled, yet our classes have not resumed. This delay is affecting our future plans.”
Rezwan Mushfiq, a student at Jahangirnagar University, echoed similar sentiments, “Two months of our semester have been lost due to the movement. Even though classes have resumed, attendance is still low.”
Anisha Das, a student in the Geography and Environment Department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, said, “Our academic activities have been completely halted for almost three months. If classes do not resume soon, we will face severe session jams.”
Responding to these concerns, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan said, “We are working hard to get everything in order. We hope to resume classes by next week.”
National University Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Amanullah said, “Managing such a large institution is challenging, but we hope to resume classes fully soon.”
Acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Dr Muhammad Alamgir said, “We have issued notices to all universities to resume classes from 18 August. However, the lack of appointed vice-chancellors has delayed the process. The ministry is working on filling these positions.”