The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Chattogram University (CU) could not organize the Convocation even after announcing it six times. Shireen Akhtar In the meantime, a five-year 'Shireen rule' is going to end with the appointment of a new VC. That is why she has to leave with the disrepute of not being able to organize the Convocation!
The new VC has been appointed, a full-time member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Md. Abu Taher working on deputation as the Professor of Management department of CU. On Tuesday (March 19), the Ministry of Education appointed him as Vice-Chancellor for a temporary period through a notification in accordance with Section 12(2) of the Chattogram University Act, 1973. His appointment will be effective from the date of joining.
Senior teachers of the University say that a peaceful environment is necessary to organize the Convocation in the University. But Dr. Shireen Akhtar's administration could not create that environment. Every time the initiative has been taken, almost every time there has been some volatility. Moreover, during her administration, there was some kind of trouble for the whole year.
28 years after the establishment of the university in 1994, the then VC Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam organized the first Convocation. Then the second Convocation was held in 1999, third in 2008 and lastly in 2016 the fourth Convocation. This convocation was organized by the former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury. Then the current Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shireen Akhtar after taking charge in 2019 announced the Convocation 6 times at different times but could not implement it in any way. Last year she announced the Convocation for the 6th time during the inauguration of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall. In addition, on February 1 of the same year, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shireen Akhtar
Statistics show that among the other Universities governed by the Ordinance of 1973, Dhaka University holds Convocation once every two years, Rajshahi University every six years and Jahangirnagar University once every 10 years. As such, Chattogram University is convened once in 14 years on an average.
The last and largest convocation in CU took place on 31 January 2016, almost 7 years ago. Graduates and post-graduates from 2004 to 2010 and PhD-MPhil from 2008 to 2013 participated in it. A total of 7194 graduates came out. The last Convocation was done by former VC of CU Professor Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury.
Meanwhile, thousands of students of the University are waiting for the 5th convocation for 8 years. Students have completed their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from various departments and institutes. Most of the students have expressed disappointment over the failure to organize the convocation despite having a budget for the convocation every year.
For the first time for the purpose of the 5th convocation, the current VC Professor Dr. Shireen Akhtar announced the Convocation on January 29, 2020 in an exchange meeting with journalists. In the same year, on November 16, CU announced for the 2nd time in a press conference organized at the Press Club on the occasion of celebrating the 56th University Day. Then on July 23, 2022, in the second session of the 34th Senate meeting, she announced the fifth convocation for the third time. In the press conference organized on the occasion of the University's 57th anniversary on November 17th that year, she announced the fifth convocation for the fourth time. Even after announcing the Convocation six times in a row, no final date could be fixed.
The teachers say that a peaceful environment is necessary to organize the convocation. But almost every time there is some kind of volatility. The university authorities have also claimed that many students are not able to complete their graduation within the stipulated time due to jamming of sessions in different batches. Organizing the annual convocation becomes difficult for the students facing the session jam. Besides, the University authorities allocate annual budget for Convocation but that money was spent in other sectors. However, in the last budget session, no allocation was kept for the convocation sector.
A postgraduate student from the History department said that there is apathy among faculty members in following the academic calendar due to irregular Convocation ceremonies. As a result, teachers in most departments do not attend classes on time. The session gap is increasing. Regular convocation will make teachers more responsible. Another student of the Philosophy department said that the lack of goodwill of the administration and political obstacles are the reasons for the irregular Convocation. However, the administration should have a plan to organize the event within a specific period.