Since its establishment, the state has viewed the University of Dhaka as its opponent in many ways. This has been reflected at different times throughout its history. Changes in the state, along with the rise of military and authoritarian rule, repeatedly interrupted the struggle to establish democracy and disrupted academic activities. Despite this, the University of Dhaka continued its self-imposed responsibility of promoting knowledge and helping establish democracy in the state and society.

These remarks were made by Professor Emeritus Dr A F Sirajul Islam Chowdhury of the Department of English at the University of Dhaka while presenting the keynote paper at a discussion titled “Restoring Democracy and Higher Education at the University of Dhaka” on Wednesday, 1 July.

The discussion was held at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) auditorium to mark the university’s 105th founding anniversary.

In his speech, Sirajul Islam Chowdhury highlighted the history of the university’s founding and its role in different movements and struggles in Bangladesh.

He said that the history of the University of Dhaka is a history of continuous struggle. “The university has fought on two fronts: establishing democracy and managing higher education. It has never failed in either of these duties, and that is where its pride and uniqueness lie.”

Professor Sirajul Islam said that, by its nature, the state is undemocratic, while a university is naturally democratic. “The conflict is therefore a struggle to establish democracy against attempts to suppress it. That is why every state has tried to control universities, delayed funding, and eventually resorted to armed attacks on them. The most brutal attack took place in 1971.”

Speaking about the quality of education and research at the university, he said there are claims that academic standards have declined. “This may be partly true. However, it is also true that, like other sectors, inequality has grown in education. A small number of students today know and understand more than students of the past, but they are not many. The main responsibility for the decline in standards lies with the state.”

Professor Sirajul Islam also addressed concerns about research. He said the claim that research has declined is not true. “A large amount of research is carried out at the university. However, much of it is not published or properly shared, and its findings are not applied in the country’s economy and society. Greater responsibility for increasing both the amount and usefulness of research lies with the state system rather than with the university.”

The discussion was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor A B M Obaidul Islam.

Others present included Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Al-Mujaddedi Al-Fesani, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr Abdus Salam, Treasurer Professor Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, and Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Convener of the University of Dhaka Alumni Association, among others.