Convert RU applied physics to EEE dept

Students of applied physics and electronic engineering (APEE) of Rajshahi University yesterday demanded conversion of their department into the electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) department, which the authorities plan to launch separately.

They claimed that there was no university in the country where these two disciplines existed at the same time.

Rakib Alam, a protester, said Dhaka University transformed its APEE department into EEE last year. "Why can't our university do the same?"

APEE students launched the protest on Saturday opposing the academic committee's plan to open the EEE department, saying the two disciplines had the same curriculum.

Dr AHM Asadul Huq, chairman of the EEE department at DU, confirmed it to The Daily Star, saying when the issue of the curriculum overlap arose, "all our teachers agreed on the conversion and students were pleased as well".

Over 300 students formed a human chain at 11:00am in front of the university central library with the slogans "stop EEE" and "convert APEE into EEE".

Prof Abu Bakar Md Ismael, dean of the RU engineering faculty, said following the APEE department's demand, the faculty had sent a proposal to the university's academic council that was approved recently.

"Now it is the APEE department's duty to decide whether to convert to EEE or not," he said.

He termed the students' protest illogical.

RU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan said now the faculty, which took the decision first, and the APEE department must jointly decide whether they would launch a new discipline or convert it.