State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has withdrawn his recent remark describing Dhaka University as a 'coaching center'. The comment, made during a podcast, sparked anger among the university’s teachers and students. In response, a group of students announced a protest and human chain to be held Friday evening near the Raju Memorial Sculpture at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).

Facing widespread criticism, Hajjaj clarified that his statement had been misrepresented and reflected his personal opinion, not the government’s official stance. In a Facebook post at 5:30 p.m. Friday, he emphasized his respect for Dhaka University’s history and contributions, saying his intention was to encourage its transformation into a world-class research institution. He also noted that the podcast discussion was informal and not policy-oriented.

Hajjaj further commented on challenges in higher education over the past 17 years, including insufficient focus on research and questions over politically influenced faculty appointments. He concluded by apologizing for any misunderstanding and fully retracting his earlier comment.