Home Economics College continues to mention "science" in their Honours and Master's certificates in Home Economics flouting the Dhaka University (DU) Academic Council's directive.

In 2001, the DU Academic Council asked the Home Economics College not to write Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Home Economics in the certificates as students from all disciplines (science, commerce, humanities and business studies) get admitted to the college.

"There is an incongruity between education and the certificates provided by the Home Economics College. Their certificates both Masters and Honours, should be Home Economics instead of Masters or Honours of Science in Home Economics," Nazma Shaheen, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science Institute of Dhaka University told The Independent.

"Taking the advantage of Honours and Masters of Science in Home Economics, the students can easily compete in the both general and education cadre. But the students of Nutrition and Food Science Institute of Dhaka University are only able to sit for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) general cadre examination, although the students of Dhaka University are more advanced than those of the Home Economics College," she said.

When asked why the Home Economics College is not following Dhaka University directives, Laila Arjumand Banu, Principal of Home Economics said the institution is providing the certificates among the students since long after introducing four-year Honours course.

Replying to a query about the demand of Home Economics College to be an institute of Dhaka University, Nazma Shaheen said it would not be possible for the College to be an institute of Dhaka University as the University Ordinance 1973 does not allow any intermediate college to be the part of Dhaka University.

Talking with this correspondent, Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique said, "We are aware of the issue but we don't have anything to do immediately. If the government and the authorities concerned think the college can be merged with the Dhaka University, they can do it."

The Home Economics College students, who all happen to be women, have been demanding of the Dhaka University authority and the government to make their educational institution an institute of the University since April 5. Putting barricade on the road, they staged demonstration.

Later, they withdrew their programme as the local lawmaker Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin assured them of resolving the issue. Apart from these, they are also urging the authorities to take immediate step in order to ensure proper supply of water and electricity. The other demand includes withdrawal of extended tuition fees. Following the students' movement, on June 23, the college authority closed the institution for indefinite period and asked the students to vacate their dormitories.

When asked about the incident Principal of Home Economics College said "The college authority considers the demand of the students as legal but the student should not take the path of destruction." "I would like make it clear that the teachers and the authority of the college do not have any link to the students' movement. Even we know nothing about who are involved in influencing the students," the principal added.

She also gave an assurance that the college authority would resolve the water and power crisis immediately. "A committee led by the Vice-Principal had been formed to discuss the matter with students in a bid to solve the existing problems. After discussion, the authority will reopen the college and bring back the congenial atmosphere for academic activities," the Principal said.

She further said the college was totally free from any sort politics. "But we are anxious about the recent incident. We are trying to find out the patrons who remaining behind the screen, are fuelling the students' movement to make the tranquil institution a turbulent one," she said.

While talking on the point, Nazma Shaheen, said according to the Ordinance, both male and female students will be given the same opportunity for studying in Dhaka University. "But the Home Economics College admit only female students. So, there is no scope for Home Economics College becoming the part of Dhaka University," she pointed out. The students involved in the movement failed to make any satisfactory answer as to why their college would be made an institute of Dhaka University.

"Actually, the senior students of the college, are not involved in the movement. The first and second year Honours students are basically involved in the movement. But we are much shocked when we came to know two of our students had been asked to leave the campus otherwise they would be expelled by the authority," they said.

-The Independent