The name of the new university for seven government colleges in Dhaka has been finalised as 'Dhaka Central University (DCU)'.
The decision was made at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday where student representatives of seven colleges, UGC Chairman SMA Faiz and other officials were present.
After the meeting, UGC Secretary Fakhrul Islam told the media that 'Dhaka Central University' has been finalised for the seven colleges from among other proposed names.
It will now be sent to the Ministry of Education. Once it is approved by the Advisory Council, an ordinance will be issued with the consent of the President, he added.
While talking about the chief adviser's upcoming visit to China at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday, Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder also said that before finalising the name, the UGC sought opinions from various stakeholders by email. In addition, 28 teams comprising students of the seven colleges were formed. These teams discussed among themselves and gave their opinions.
He also said that there will be an interim administrator to manage the university. One of the principals of these seven colleges will be the interim administrator of the new university.
The seven government colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Women's College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College.
During the tenure of the ousted Awami League government, plans were made to bring the government colleges under government and autonomous universities.
As part of the initiative, seven colleges were affiliated to Dhaka University in the first phase in February 2017. Later, in October last year, students of these colleges took to the streets, alleging various irregularities and mismanagement by Dhaka University in overseeing these institutions.
They demanded formation of a separate university comprising the seven colleges. In the wake of a long movement, a special committee was formed by the government in December.
The members of that committee worked for more than 3 months, conducting feasibility studies, visiting campuses, drafting a separation outline, and holding meetings with teachers and students.
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