Star interview: Campus politics should focus on education

The focus of student politics should be issues relating to academia, said Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, the new vice-chancellor of Dhaka University.
“I believe that if politics is to be done on campus, it should be related to education. We will talk about curriculum, the relationship between the university and society and between students and teachers. These should be the main aspects of ​​student politics,” he said.
Prof Niaz was talking to The Daily Star and other media outlets yesterday, his first day as the VC. He spoke about the crucial issues of student-teacher politics as questions were raised on partisan politics polluting the campus.
Prof Niaz said a greater social consensus is required to decide whether such politics should exist on the campus. “It is difficult to decide on our own.”
Asked whether he wants to make Ducsu (DU Central Students’ Union) effective again, Prof Niaz said he will take measures to make the university’s existing structures operational so that the students’ and teachers’ opinions are taken into account. “However, we will know how long it will take to do that after discussions with the stakeholders.”
Freedom of expression of students and teachers is mentioned in the Dhaka University Order, 1973, he said. “Those who founded the university formed the structures keeping these elements in mind.”
The DU will prioritise rebuilding within a week the administrative structure required to resume academic activities.
“We are not waiting for a 100 percent perfect situation. We will resume [the activities] as much as we can. Such a situation is unprecedented in recent memory.”
“My team hopes to start full-scale activities within a week. After taking office, we have been constantly talking to the stakeholders. We are trying to start the university’s operations based on understanding with all. So, resuming the academic activities and reopening the dormitories is our first goal.”
“The students have long been facing hurdles to an education-friendly environment. They have some reasonable suggestions, including those related to the student-teacher relationship and some others to infrastructural limitations. We will prioritise the issues that everyone is talking about in general,” he added.
The next priority, Prof Niaz said, will be to cooperate with the outstanding researchers of the university. “It is a place of great interest to me. Our previous administration also took some initiatives to improve the university’s rankings. Their good steps will be continued.”
He said it would be a great challenge to make the students adapt to the changed situation.
“It has both physical and mental aspects. Maximum support will be given to get them out of trauma. I am committed to continuing to try to solve the problems of Dhaka University with everyone’s advice.”
Regarding the teachers’ appointment on political considerations, the VC said such practices go against the spirit of the anti-discrimination movement, but his administration will first try to deal with the immediate crisis.
“It would be difficult for me to work on this agenda if the stakeholders do not agree with me or support me.”
Prof Niaz called for opinions from the stakeholders. “My door is open for any suggestion and advice.”
“If I don’t accept the suggestion, I will disclose the reasons. At this critical time, it is very important to continue dialogue with everyone irrespective of party affiliation.”