7 former DU-affiliated colleges to unite as ‘Dhaka Central University’

Authorities have decided to name the new institution formed through the merger of seven government colleges as Dhaka Central University, or DCU.

The decision came following a meeting between the University Grants Commission, or UGC, and students representatives of the seven colleges on Sunday.

Abdur Rahman, a student at Dhaka College and a key organiser of the Seven College University Transformation Movement Team, told bdnews24.com that while some students had favoured the name "Dhaka Federal University", a consensus was ultimately reached on Dhaka Central University.

“A total of 40 names were proposed,” he said.

“Two emerged as finalists, and after further discussion, we agreed on Dhaka Central University.”

The seven government colleges, formerly affiliated with Dhaka University, include Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls’ College, Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.

Together, they serve a student body of nearly 200,000.

The formation of the new university follows years of debate over the governance of these institutions.

During the tenure of the ousted Awami League government, there was a plan to bring government colleges under the National University or to transform them into autonomous institutions.

In 2017, as a first step toward such reforms, Dhaka University took the seven colleges under its administrative umbrella.