Special Convocation for DU 60S-90s students!!!

Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNB) - A special convocation is on the cards to bring together all the Dhaka University graduates who passed during the three decades - 1960’s to early 90s - when the DU alumnus got almost no convocation.

Arrangement to hold the special convocation has come under active consideration of the Dhaka University authorities following a proposal made recently by the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) to the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

On the basis of the DUAA’s proposal, the Dhaka University Senate has adopted a resolution recommending to the authorities concerned to arrange the special convocation.

The Dhaka University Deans Committee has also given consent to the proposal and forwarded the necessary documents to the DU Academic Council.

“Now we are waiting for a decision from the Academic Council which has the jurisdiction to decide on the special convocation,” Raquibuddin Ahmed, the DUAA secretary general, told UNB.

Meanwhile, sources in the DU administration said the next meeting of the Academic Council would be held on August 25.

Raquibuddin said that during the long period from 60s to 90s no convocation could be held for various historic reasons including the 60s’ educational movements, 1971 liberation war and political instability after the independence.

He said those DU students who did not get any convocation to attend had made ever memorable sacrifices for the homeland.

Raquibuddin said among the several lakhs of Dhaka University graduates who did not get convocation, many already have passed away. Of the rest, many reached the last stage of life while many others are in their middle age.

“It is the moral duty for all of us to arrange a special convocation for such Dhaka University alumnus,” he said.

The DUAA secretary general said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Health Adviser to the Prime Minister Prof. Dr Syed Mudasser Ali, Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, present Cabinet secretary M Abdul Aziz, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, PSC chairman Sadat Hossain and all the present PSC members, and noted litterateur Humayun Ahmed are among the students who did not get any convocation to attend.

Raquibuddin said all the living Vice-Chancellors of Dhaka University, including present VC Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, also did not have the opportunity to receive their certificates of graduation from the university through convocation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also been informed about the special convocation of the University of Dhaka.

The DUAA secretary general said the Prime Minister came to know about the thinking over the special convocation when a 33-member delegation of DUAA met her at the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) on August 12.

“We also sought special patronization from the Prime Minister to arrange the convocation. The Prime Minister was pleased to know of our proposal on the special convocation,” he said.

“If everything goes smoothly, the special convocation is very much possible to be arranged by next January or February,” he added.

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) President Khandaker Bazlul Haque said he would do his best to arrange the special convocation.

“Convocation is not a privilege it is a right of the students. For the university, arranging convocation is an obligation,” he said.

The DUTA president said the special convocation will enhance the image of the Dhaka University to a large extent.

When contacted, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arefin Siddique, who is also the chairman of the academic council, said he has been given a proposal from the DUAA on the special convocation.

“We’ll follow the rules and regulations of the University to consider the proposal on the special convocation,” he said.

The VC said that arranging such a big event like special convocation will need huge fund and lot of time. “So, special convocation depends on many things…funding and timing will be the two main challenges.”

Asked about his expectation as one of the former DU students, Prof. Arefin Siddique said it would be great if the special convocation can be arranged.

He said that between the years of 1964 to 1998, convocation was held only once in 1970. But it was too small to accommodate all the students then.