Over the last century, Dhaka University has offered contemporary higher education to the masses and left an indelible imprint in a nation's path to independence, reports bdnews24.com.
As the university marks its 100th founding anniversary, it is firmly entrenched in all the democratic movements of the Bengali nation.
But it has made little strides in the field of higher studies and research.
Prof Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury believes this is due to lack of assistance from the powers that be-both before and after Bangladesh's independence.
Since its inception, Dhaka University has had to wage a battle on two fronts -- education and society, he said. It had to ensure its survival by fighting against ruling powers.
"After independence of the country, Dhaka University did get the right to autonomy but not the support of the state. The university is supposed to flourish with quality education and research, but the state failed to generate that opportunity," he added.
Syed Anwar Husain, a professor of history, thinks the political interference of the post-liberation rulers tarnished the much-vaunted traditions of the university.
The standards of education provided by the university were 'pretty good' before the era of independence, he said. But later, after 1975 in particular, there was a decline.
"Bangabandhu marked a good start to Dhaka University's journey after independence by giving it autonomy. He wanted the university to have complete liberty in practicing knowledge. But the misdeeds done in the university during the Bangladesh era did not happen in either the Pakistan period or the colonial rule."
During the British rule, as well as the Pakistani regime, the vice-chancellors of Dhaka University were academics who were ahead of the curve. Now, the appointment of vice-chancellor is made "completely based on political consideration".
"Not only Dhaka University, but the public universities in the country are each thought to be a division of the government like they were during the Pakistan era and the appointment of vice-chancellors is done taking that into account."
National Professor Rafiqul Islam, however, believes the university's role in the practice of knowledge and its proliferation is overblown.
"Dhaka University has given more than what the nation wanted. This university presented us with an independent country," he said.
Political scientist Rounaq Jahan said, "Politics was always present in the university. But it once served a bigger purpose, the country and the nation. But now the students and the teachers are involved in politics that serves smaller purposes.
"This is Dhaka University's departure from its glorious traditions."
Highlighting the university's contributions before and after the country's independence, former vice-chancellor AK Azad Chowdhury said, "The role Dhaka University played in the formation of the nation, bringing changes in society, establishing perspectives has somewhat diminished after the independence."
Prof Akhtaruzzaman, the vice-chancellor of the university, revealed plans to expand research fields and ensure quality and inclusive education with the second century in sight.
He said, "Our primary target is to make the university a world-class one in its second century. We've taken up different plans including - the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, construction of a university suitable for the fourth industrial revolution and generating a skilled human resource."
The University of Dhaka was established on July 1, 1921 as a royal compensation for the annulment of the partition of Bengal during the British colonial rule, which Lord Lytton called 'splendid imperial compensation'.
The university was built on a 600-acre land in Ramna, the poshest area in Dhaka at the time, in a picturesque environment comprising the abandoned buildings of the East Bengal and Assam provincial government.
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