DU Live: President Abdul Hamid on Monday said commercial courses are turning public universities into business institutions disrupting the campus atmosphere. This is disturbing the education atmosphere at the universities. Many public universities assume the character of private universities at night … This is unacceptable.

President Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, noted that there was a question about how much students are benefiting from these degrees even though a section of teachers is benefiting. 

“Thousands of graduates are being produced every year with these commercial courses. A particular class of teachers is making profits [from these courses] … and turning the universities into business institutions,” he said at the 52nd convocation of Dhaka University.

Hamid noted that there are some teachers who are reluctant about taking classes of regular courses but are very serious when it comes to evening and diploma courses, and classes at private universities. 

“It’s because they get cash benefits from these private universities. But remember, the universities are run with taxpayers’ money. So, you’ve to be accountable to people,” the Chancellor said.

"In many departments, the number of professors is now higher than the teachers of other positions. Many teachers have forgotten the identity of a teacher who got an administrative post," he said.  

"Students are enrolled in university for acquiring knowledge, not to return home as corpses or expelled. These unexpected incidents could have been prevented in many cases if the authorities took the right steps in time. The university authorities cannot avoid the responsibilities completely," he said.

The 52nd convocation of Dhaka University (DU) was held on its campus with the participation of 20,796 graduates. Nobel Laureate in physics and Special University Professor Dr Takaaki Kajita, also Director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research of Tokyo University, delivered his speech as the convocation speaker.

Extending his sincere thanks and felicitations to the Nobel Laureate for his gracious presence at the convocation, President Hamid said his presence provided a fresh impetus to the graduates and the university as well. 

Dhaka 09 December (campuslive24.com)//IHA