White Panel protests Bobby Hajjaj’s remarks about Dhaka University

Dhaka University monogram

Dhaka, 29 May – The White Panel of Dhaka University, a BNP-leaning teachers' alliance, has strongly condemned and protested remarks made by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, who compared Dhaka University to a “coaching centre.”

In a statement issued today, Sada Dal said the recent comments made by the state minister were “extremely derogatory and irresponsible” and unacceptable under any circumstances.

The organization said Dhaka University currently ranks among the country’s leading research institutions and holds the top position among public universities in Bangladesh in terms of research and publications. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia rankings, the university remains one of the country’s premier institutions for higher education and research, it added.

The statement noted that nearly 56 active and specialized research bureaus and centres operate under the university’s science, arts, and social science faculties. Among them are the Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) and the Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR). It also mentioned that teachers and students of Dhaka University publish numerous research papers every year in internationally recognized Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals.

The Sada Dal alleged that while commenting on the university’s research activities, the state minister compared Dhaka University with two private universities based on “false information,” which it described as highly condemnable.

The statement further said Dhaka University is not merely a higher education institution but is deeply intertwined with the history, birth, and development of independent Bangladesh.

According to the statement, Dhaka University also provided historic leadership in various anti-autocracy movements in independent Bangladesh, including the anti-Ershad movement of the 1990s, resistance against the post-1/11 undemocratic government, and the 2024 anti-fascist mass uprising led by students and the public.

Sada Dal also said Dhaka University has remained at the forefront of preserving Bengali culture, secular values, and the tradition of celebrating Pahela Baishakh. Despite limited budgets and what it described as state negligence, the university’s contributions to education and research continue to receive global recognition.

The statement said, “Bangladesh means Dhaka University.” It termed it extremely unfortunate that a responsible state minister would make remarks such as “Dhaka University is a coaching centre” about such a historic institution closely tied to the nation’s emotions and identity. 

The organisation claimed that the minister’s remarks could not have come from any “sane or historically conscious individual” and instead appeared to be “ignorant ramblings.” It said such comments from a member of the government were deeply shameful and had hurt the entire university community as well as the people of the country. 

The statement added that the remarks had insulted current students, teachers, former teachers and alumni of the university, along with its glorious history and contributions.

Demanding an immediate withdrawal of the comments, Sada Dal warned that teachers and students would be compelled to announce tougher programmes to protect the dignity of the university if the remarks were not retracted.

The statement was signed by Sada Dal convener prof. Dr. Md Morshed Hasan Khan and joint conveners prof. Dr Abdus Salam and prof. Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarker. - UNB