Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has voiced support for granting greater autonomy to private universities in the interest of expanding higher education, but with a stark warning: such freedom must not pave the way for another Holey Artisan-style tragedy.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion meeting titled “Problems and Solutions of Private Universities”, organised by the Association of Private University of Bangladesh (APUB) at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka.
“Private universities must be given freedom in the interest of ensuring higher education,” Dr. Milon told the gathering of university owners and educators.
He clarified the government’s role, stating, “The UGC will perform the duty of a guardian, not a regulator. However, it will not interfere in every matter on a daily basis.”
But the minister struck a cautionary note, warning that freedom has its limits. “That freedom must not reach a point where the country experiences another incident like Holey Artisan. Private universities cannot be allowed to become factories of militancy.”
The minister’s reference to Holey Artisan carries historical weight. On 1 July 2016, militants attacked a bakery in Gulshan, killing over 20 people, mostly foreigners. Most of the attackers and those involved were students of private universities.
Later that same year, on 7 July, a private university student was also found to be involved in an attack on police near the Sholakia Eidgah ground in Kishoreganj. Those events triggered widespread national debate about the link between private universities, wealthy families, and the rise of militancy.
The education minister acknowledged that while many private universities maintain excellent standards, others require significant improvement.
“There is no alternative to improving quality,” he said. “In this regard, there will be government guidance and UGC supervision.”
APUB President Sabur Khan, who presided over the event, demanded that private universities be given a representative on the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Abdal Khaleq, termed the demand “logical in principle.”
The Prime Minister’s Education Adviser, Mahdi Amin, told the audience that VAT and taxes should not be imposed on private universities in higher education. “The government is considering the matter,” he said.
Amin also expressed support for introducing PhD programmes in private universities.
UGC Chairman Mamun Ahmed responded to complaints from several private university vice-chancellors, insisting that no distinction should be made between public and private institutions.
“The UGC sees all of the at least 50 lakh students of the country’s 175 universities with equal eyes,” he said.
However, he added a crucial reminder: “Higher education cannot be solely for employment. The job of a university is to produce knowledge comprehensively. Besides enhancing students’ skills, they must be morally and mentally enlightened. This matter must also be considered with importance.”
