Students of Bangla department of Dhaka University staged demonstration in the campus yesterday protesting the recent decision jointly taken by the Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding approval of isometric status of linguistics students to that of Bangla.
Earlier yesterday morning, education ministry sent a letter to the Bangla Department saying DU linguistics department and Bangla Department were now equivalent and linguistics students could be considered for the post of teacher at Bangla department.
Around 500 students of Bangla Department started demonstration boycotting classes and brought out a procession from the pedestal of Aparajeyo Bangla which marched different streets of the campus. Then the agitated students held a protest rally at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla denouncing the decision adopted by education ministry and UGC.
Speakers at the rally said: “We (students of Bangla) have to face exams amounting to 3000 marks to complete our degree in Bangla. To the contrary, linguistics students have to face only 100 marks of examination related to our course. Of course the two courses cannot be counted as equal. We will never comply with education ministry’s decision.”
They urged the Education Minister to withdraw the decision as early as possible and announced to form a human chain at Aparejeyo Bangla today.
The agitated students also announced to wage tougher programmes if their rational demands were no met immediately. When contacted with Prof Shoumitro Shekhor, faculty member of Bangla Department said the students of the two departments have to follow different types of syllabi, so it is not a wise decision by the UGC and Education Ministry.”
S M Sadik, a master’s student from Bangla department told the Dhaka Tribune that it was a ridiculous decision by the authority and we want immediate cancellation of that decision.
Meanwhile, teachers of the Bengla Department and Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman also expressed their solidarity with the protesters. “Two departments, Bangla and Linguistics, are important in their respective sectors, so UGC should not bring any undue change in the course and curriculum of the subjects,” said Prof Anisozzaman.
