Inqilab Mancha’s Dhaka College unit has welcomed an online opinion poll on migrating students from seven colleges affiliated with the University of Dhaka to relevant academic programmes at Dhaka Central University. In a statement published on August 18, the group declared support for a “yes” vote and urged eligible students from the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years to participate.

The group said the migration process is closely linked to students’ future academic identity and education. It argued that since the seven colleges were affiliated with the University of Dhaka in 2017, students have faced an identity crisis, session delays and uncertainty. The statement cited coordination problems in question-setting, answer-script evaluation and result publication as causes of prolonged harm to students.

Inqilab Mancha said its stance is not against the University of Dhaka or any teacher or student at the existing seven colleges, while warning against efforts to pit different sides against one another. It called for a research-based academic calendar, a roadmap against session delays, a semester system, dialogue-based conditions and solutions to building, housing and transport shortages. The authority’s notice said voting runs from 10am on August 17 until 10pm on August 19.