Uncertainty looms over DU convocation

However, the authorities are set to hold the convocation on December 24.

Thousands of students thronged the administrative building and Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) yesterday to collect convocation gowns.

About 7600 graduates and post-graduates will receive certificates at the convocation.

The university will also confer 'Doctor of Laws' (honoris causa) on Nobel laureate Prof Mohammad Yunus at the convocation, who will grace the occasion as the Convocation Speaker.

Meanwhile, students expressed mixed feelings over holding of the convocation. Many of them said it would be unwanted if it is not held on time while some are not happy to receive certificates from President/Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed for what they said 'his controversial position'.

Some students also said they are not going to receive their certificates from Iajuddin.

A number of teachers said many teachers would boycott the convocation since they think there is no favourable atmosphere to hold the event.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) had tried to vandalise the makeshift construction for the convocation on December 18 at the central playground of the university.

BCL DU unit President Sohel Rana Tipu said they would resist the convocation as well as the controversial president/chief adviser, also Chancellor of the university.

Pragatisheel Chhatra Jote (PCJ), a combine of left-leaning student bodies, yesterday at a press conference on the campus declared that they would resist the holding of the convocation and urged Prof Yunus not to attend the ceremony.

Former Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique thinks the time is not suitable to hold the convocation.

"The university is yet to get normalcy, cadres have been keeping the campus seized, students with different opinions cannot stroll on the campus, many students refused to receive certificates from the controversial chancellor and the convocation seems to be a politically motivated programme", he said.

Duta General Secretary Prof Dr Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman said convocation should be held in a festive mood with spontaneous participation of all graduates and post-graduates, but currently a favourable environment to hold the convocation is absent.

"Authorities should create a convocation-like environment before holding it," he added.

However, university authorities are firm to hold the convocation.

Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz said university's continuous impasse will not hamper the convocation.