The government is planning to establish a separate university for the seven major public colleges in the capital, which may be named "July 36 University." This name has been proposed by a committee led by Professor S. M. A. Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). If the students agree, this name could be finalized.
Today, Thursday, UGC Chairman Professor S. M. A. Faiz and the three-member committee held a meeting with Education Advisor Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, where this name was proposed.
Regarding this, Professor S. M. A. Faiz told Prothom Alo that out of several options, the name "July 36 University" particularly caught their attention. The education advisor also praised the name. However, the final decision will be based on what the students prefer.
It is evident that the proposer of this name is selling the "July Spirit" to secure personal gains. Surely, the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus will understand this. This means the business of ideological sentiments in this country will not fade anytime soon. The previous government legitimized all its actions in the name of the spirit of the Liberation War. Now, the July sentiment has begun.
A university must uphold international values and meet global standards. Foreign delegates will frequently need explanations about the "36th of July"—a date that does not exist! There is no such thing as July 36 in the Gregorian calendar, the Lunar calendar, the Hijri calendar, or the Bengali calendar. When students from this university go abroad for higher studies or jobs, they will constantly face questions about the name. Not everyone will understand the spirit of our movement—some may even mock it.
Even if the BNP-Jamaat alliance comes to power in the next election, they will not retain this name. Most importantly, if the government grants a brand-new university to these seven colleges, what about other historic institutions like Devendra College, Ananda Mohan College, Brojomohun College, Victoria College, Carmichael College, and Sa'adat College? Will they be left behind?
These seven colleges—Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College—house nearly 200,000 students and over 1,000 teachers. Other colleges have even more faculty and students.
How can a country operate under two different systems?
You cannot grant public university status to some colleges just because they protested while leaving others behind. This double standard is unacceptable in a civilized society. Such an approach will never gain public legitimacy.
Instead, the government should strengthen the National University and establish regional branches across different divisions of the country. All colleges should be affiliated under these regional branches. The names of these branches could reflect their respective regions or be dedicated to undisputed national figures. For example, the Rangpur branch of the National University could be named Shahid Abu Sayeed University.
Otherwise, the seven-college crisis will not be resolved—it will only worsen. If the government remains firm on making these seven colleges a separate university, soon we may witness other historic colleges taking to the streets, demanding university status. Their students might even go on hunger strikes.
The current situation in the country feels like a convergence of all demands into one unified movement. It seems as if everything is now available just by asking for it.
Author: Journalist
January 30, 2025