A proposal to merge eight departments under the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Dhaka into three new departments has sparked concern among teachers and students, who say they were not consulted before the idea was placed for discussion.
The proposal was presented at a meeting of the Deans’ Committee held on 2 July at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban. The deans of the faculties concerned have been asked to discuss the proposal with department chairpersons and submit recommendations before any further decision is made.
The proposal suggests merging the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, the Department of Television, Film and Photography, and the Department of Printing and Publication Studies under the Faculty of Social Sciences into a single department.
Under the Faculty of Arts, it proposes merging the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies with the Department of Music, and combining the Department of Sanskrit with the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies.
The meeting minutes bear the signature of Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) Prof Abdus Salam. Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, he said, “The matter has been discussed, but no decision has been taken yet.”
Fears of losing departmental identity
Jabir Bin Mahmud, a third-year student of the Department of Printing and Publication Studies, said the merger could create significant administrative and academic complications, including challenges in managing classrooms, academic activities and infrastructure.
Another student from the department, Sadia Noor, said the greatest concern was the possible loss of the department’s identity.
“Students from nine batches have built their academic and professional identities around this department. If it ceases to exist, both current students and alumni may face an identity crisis,” she said.
Department Chairperson Shilpy Begum said Printing and Publication Studies is a professionally oriented discipline designed to meet the needs of the printing and publishing industry.
“Our curriculum is aligned with industry demand. Students receive hands-on training and internship opportunities in the publishing and printing sectors. Bangladesh’s security printing, packaging, publishing and printing industries are expanding, while skilled professionals remain in short supply. Therefore, the need for this department has increased rather than diminished,” she said.
She also rejected the argument that vacant seats justified the merger.
“All 30 seats are filled every year. Although some students migrate to other departments through the admission process, that is a normal feature of the country’s university admission system. The argument that seats remain vacant does not apply to us,” she added.
Saiyeed Shahjada Al Kareem, chairperson of the Department of Television, Film and Photography (TFP), said such an important academic proposal should have been discussed with the concerned departments beforehand.
“It would have been appropriate to hold consultations before initiating such a significant academic decision,” he said.
Concerns over academic compatibility
A teacher from the Department of Sanskrit said majority number of faculty members had opposed the proposal to merge the department with Pali and Buddhist Studies.
“The curricula, syllabi and academic objectives of the two departments are fundamentally different. We do not see any academic justification for merging them,” the teacher said.
Teachers and students from the Departments of Theatre and Performance Studies and Music have also voiced concerns, particularly over the possible impact on practice-based learning, performance training and discipline-specific expertise.
Mahadi Hasan Shah, a second-year student of Theatre and Performance Studies, said the department’s curriculum already includes practical training in acting, music, dance, stage design and related disciplines.
“If music or dance is fully integrated into one department, the curriculum will become even more complex,” he said.
Department Chairperson Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma described the proposal as misguided. “At the present time, even considering such a merger is the wrong approach,” she said, adding that the argument about vacant seats did not apply to her department either.
Saifur Rahman Emon, a fourth-year student of the Department of Music, noted that music, theatre and dance had once existed under a single department but were later separated to meet academic needs.
“Music education requires years of regular practice, vocal training and subject-specific instruction. Theatre and dance follow different pedagogical approaches. Merging them again could place additional academic pressure on students,” he said.
Shantu Barua, chairperson of the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, argued that the importance of an academic discipline should not be judged solely by employment prospects or admission figures.
“As a comprehensive university, the University of Dhaka should preserve both large and small fields of knowledge,” he said, adding that a lack of understanding about different academic disciplines appeared to be driving such proposals.
Wider reaction
The proposal has also drawn criticism on social media. Professor Zobaida Nasreen of the Department of Anthropology questioned why only Sanskrit and Pali and Buddhist Studies were being considered for merger.
“If there is discussion about merging Pali and Buddhist Studies with Sanskrit, why is there no similar proposal to merge the Urdu and Persian departments?” she wrote.
Education researcher and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the National University Mohammad Ali Zinnah said such a decision should not be taken without long-term research, a proper assessment of academic needs and extensive consultations with teachers, students and other stakeholders.
The Deans’ Committee, however, has instructed the deans concerned to consult department chairpersons and submit recommendations before any decision is made.
Academic committee meetings have already been scheduled in the Departments of Television, Film and Photography and Printing and Publication Studies to discuss the proposal.
Prof Mohammad Mainul Islam, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said the process was still at a preliminary stage. “This is only a proposal. The discussion has just begun, and nothing has been finalised. Any decision will be taken after considering the opinions and feedback of all concerned,” he told TIMES.
