Joyous centenary celebration of DU

The 1edifice called the University of Dhaka is one of the iconic symbols of the independence of Bangladesh. It remained at the forefront of the major sociopolitical and cultural movements of the Bengalis that ultimately spearheaded the final thrust for total independence in 1971.

We pay homage to Dhaka University on its completion of a 100-year run, leaving behind many glorious milestones for all Bangladeshis to be proud of. The auspicious journey had begun on July 1, 1921 to fulfil the dreams of the people of East Bengal. Today, Dhaka University celebrates the university's 100 years and also the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

While addressing the teachers and students of DU, President Abdul Hamid said that an academic degree is not enough—students have to achieve international standards of education. He further suggested that the university authorities keep in their mind the standards maintained at the top universities around the world while approving curricula and teaching faculty.

We believe the president hit the right button when he talked about the standard of education at Dhaka University. It is not unknown to anyone that the standard of teaching and learning and the overall academic environment in this institute have deteriorated considerably in the past decades because of various reasons.

When we talk about its glorious past, we must recall the qualifications and quality of the first few generations of teachers. It is because of them that DU had reached the high level of excellence since its inception. It has produced world-class economists, engineers, sociopolitical researchers, scientists, medical and social scientists and so on, but, unfortunately, though the number of enrolled students has gone up phenomenally, we see less presence of our students on the world stage.

Today, Dhaka University is not among the top universities in the world for many reasons; lack of research is one of them. No international standard research work has been undertaken by the faculties of this university in the past decades. The fund received by the institute is primarily spent on teachers' salaries and construction of various infrastructures on campus. As a result, it cannot fund big research undertakings. On the other hand, students living in dormitories complain of substandard food, lack of study materials, laboratories, etc.

It needs no emphasising that a university can reach the desired level of excellence when it has highly qualified and competent faculties, sound academic environment, scientific and general research activities, and the required number of departments and institutes. The quality of education and research should remain as the key indicators.

The glorious past in the early decades of DU was determined through reaching academic excellence. In the 60s and 70s, its involvement and role in the glorious liberation movement of Bangladesh became a model before nations struggling for liberation.

Today, we have to look to the future and prepare ourselves to face the challenges of the technology-driven world. Therefore, Dhaka University should invest more on science and technology, so that the present generation can be sufficiently equipped to take up the challenges.