Students benefit post-uprising, but sectoral reforms lag

The student-led mass uprising in Bangladesh in 2024 that ousted the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina has already ushered in significant changes in higher education institutions, for students in particular. However, broader reforms involving sector-wide changes seem likely to take longer.

The interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus and which included representation from students involved in the movement, has become a symbol of hope for many. It has pledged reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and steering the nation towards genuine democracy.

Already campuses have experienced a noticeable transformation. Campus violence, previously rampant due to the dominance of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League-backed Chhatra League (BCL), has subsided, according to many reports.

A ‘more peaceful campus life’

“Students are no longer coerced into attending political meetings or subjected to the physical and mental abuse that was once routine under Chhatra League-controlled dormitories during the 15-year Awami League rule. First- and second-year students, in particular, are finally experiencing a more peaceful campus life,” Abdul Jabber, a resident student of Surja Sen Hall of Dhaka University, told University World News.

“In the absence of BCL, the hall [allocation] crises have eased, with the [university] administration now being able to fairly distribute places among regular students,” he said.

Previously, student rooms were often allocated to non-student BCL people while first-year students were crammed into overcrowded and unsanitary ‘gono rooms’ (common rooms).

Often controlled by BCL, the ‘gono rooms’ – designed to accommodate four students but often housing more than 20 – deprived occupants of basic necessities like proper beds, hygiene facilities, and study spaces.

Anu Muhammad, a former professor of economics at Jahangirnagar University, said it was clear BCL violence at universities had stopped.

“We don’t see the presence of any kind of repression and intimidation. There is nothing like the ‘guest room’ which is actually a torture cell, and inhuman living conditions at ‘gono rooms’,” he told University World News, referring to the severe intimidation, ragging, and hazing inflicted on younger students.

Abdul Kader, a co-ordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told University World News BCL leaders routinely forced students to participate in rallies, meetings, and do chores against their will. “Now, students are free from that culture. They are given the dignity they deserve. We hope this trend continues,” he said.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement was part of the student protests that started on 1 July against government job quotas and later turned into a mass uprising that became violent and led to the ousting of then Prime Minister Hasina on 5 August. Hasina fled to India.

Yunus, in a televised address on 17 November, said approximately 1,500 students, workers, and citizens lost their lives during the July-August uprising, with 19,931 others injured.

The ban on BCL imposed in late October created uncertainty for some former members who were not directly involved in violence but feared for their future. Many ordinary activists are struggling to adapt, facing resistance from rivals and worrying about their place in the evolving campus environment.

Vice-chancellor appointments

Despite obvious gains, academics have been critical of certain aspects of the interim government's approach, in particular, the appointment of new university leadership.

Almost all top-level officials, including vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, and treasurers appointed by the ousted Awami League government, resigned from public universities after August. Subsequently, the government appointed new vice-chancellors, taking nearly three months to complete the process.

However, many newly appointed vice-chancellors are perceived to have been selected based on political affiliations, continuing a longstanding practice by successive governments.

Teachers pointed out that at least 30 out of 47 new vice-chancellors appointed by the interim government were connected to pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party and pro-Jamaat-i-Islami teachers' organisations. The two parties opposed the Awami League.

For example, before his appointment as the new vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Professor Kamrul Ahsan was president of the pro-BNP teachers’ organisation Jatiyatabadi Shikkhak Forum at JU.

The newly appointed vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University, Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib, had ties to the pro-BNP teachers’ forum, while a member of the pro-BNP teachers’ forum, M Yeaqub Ali, was appointed pro-vice-chancellor of Islamic University.

In addition, Dhaka University (DU) Professor ABM Obaidul Islam, former convener of the BNP-backed teachers’ panel, was appointed vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University. The current convener of the forum, Professor Lutfor Rahman, was appointed pro-vice chancellor of the National University.

“What I can say is that the changes in the administration of universities were not well thought out. Wholesale changes have taken place; some of the new appointments are good, but there are serious questions about others,” Muhammad said.

“By and large, political links are being prioritised over academic excellence and administrative experience,” he added.

Slow progress on higher education reform

After the formation of the interim government, different teachers’ groups put forward various proposals aimed at thoroughgoing reforms to higher education in Bangladesh. But the lack of visible progress in implementing the reforms has left academics dissatisfied.

A proposal by Bangladesh’s University Teachers Network (UTN) included allowing universities to operate autonomously, without political interference. Other key proposals included holding teachers accountable for classroom performance and decentralising decision-making powers, currently concentrated in vice-chancellors.

UTN member Dr Samina Luthfa, an associate professor in DU’s Department of Sociology, said: “We don’t see any significant improvement regarding our proposals. But still there is some time; we are hopeful about changes”.

Another group of DU teachers, under the banner of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Society (DUTS), handed a 15-point proposal to the higher education regulatory body, the University Grants Commission (UGC), also calling for an overhaul of the appointments process and proposing initiatives to encourage joint research between public and private universities, and a uniform admission system to higher education.

Admissions system changes

Some prominent universities, including Jagannath University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Comilla University and Barishal University, have decided to leave the cluster admission system, education ministry sources said.

Twenty-four public universities under the general, science and technology (GST) cluster are holding a single admission test from 2020.

The cluster system is a centralised undergraduate admission process designed to streamline applications for multiple universities under shared categories. It was introduced to reduce financial strain, save time, and simplify admissions.

UGC Chairman Professor Syed Muhammed Abul Faiz said the UGC had no legal authority to prevent universities from conducting independent admission tests.

However, “universities should prioritise students’ convenience and consult all stakeholders before finalising their decisions,” he said.

A top UGC official said work to amend the existing Private University Act of 2010, with strict regulations for the setting up and operating of private universities in order to improve governance and transparency in the sector, is progressing slowly.

An additional secretary of the ministry told University World News it was not “on the priority list of the interim government”.

Hope for institutional change

Academics said the interim government, with representation from students, has emerged as a symbol of optimism.

The government formed 15 reform commissions to strengthen weakened democratic institutions, establish a state system rooted in public ownership, accountability, and welfare, and lead the country towards genuine democracy. These commissions are expected to report this month after an extended deadline.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on 3 December proposed the drafting of a fresh national constitution, the formation of a constituent assembly, and recognition of the student-led July-August mass upsurge in the new constitution along with others, a member of the Constitution Reform Commission said.

“Reform was one of the aspirations of the people during the student-led mass upsurge. It is positive that there is talking on different reforms. All reforms should be done with national consensus,” Luthfa said.

“We are hopeful that the political culture will see massive change. We are already observing that large political parties are behaving reasonably on different issues like reform,” she said.