C T Online Desk: The fifth convocation of the University of Chittagong (CU) will be held on 14 May. Nearly 23,000 students who completed their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees between 2011 and 2023 will receive their certificates. Additionally, 22 students will be awarded PhD degrees and 17 will receive MPhil degrees.
The convocation speaker this year is Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the interim government and former faculty member of CU. On this occasion, he will be conferred with the honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) degree by the university. Four advisors will also attend the ceremony as special guests: Education Advisor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum, Liberation War Advisor Faruk-i-Azam Bir Protik, and Power Advisor Dr. Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan. UGC Chairman S.M.A. Fayez will also be present.
The campus is in a festive mood in anticipation of the grand event. A massive marquee with a seating capacity of 25,000 has been erected on the central playground for the main program. All dormitories, faculties, and administrative buildings have been refurbished and decorated, adding a fresh touch across the campus. Many students can be seen wearing their convocation gowns and caps, taking photos with family and friends, and catching up with old classmates.
According to the university administration, the total expenditure for the convocation will be around Tk14 crore. Of this Tk6.5 crore will be collected from student fees, while the remainder will come from university funds, UGC, and sponsors.
Nineteen sub-committees are working to ensure the successful arrangement of the event. Each academic department is also coordinating with its alumni. The central playground has already been fully prepared, and three large pavilions have been set up to accommodate 30,000 attendees.
CU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yeahia Akhter stated, “When we assumed office we realised the university was not operating according to its academic calendar. Convocations are a vital part of academic life, but CU has held only four since its establishment.”
He added, “We will not tolerate irregularities. We are gradually restoring order and discipline. We are here to serve the students and ensure they receive their due rights. This convocation is part of that initiative. Our preparations are complete. We are confident that this will be the largest convocation in the country’s history.”
Instructions for Students:
Students must arrive at the venue by 1 PM on Wednesday. Late entry will not be allowed. Nothing except mobile phones may be carried. Medical teams, ICU facilities, and washrooms will be available for emergencies. No one may leave the venue until the program concludes. Elderly persons, infants, and small children are advised not to attend. On the day, 100 buses will transport graduates from designated city points starting at 6 AM and will return post-event. Shuttle buses will also operate from the campus’s Gate 1 area. No other vehicles will be allowed on this route. Personal cars must be driven by a personal driver, as no vehicles may enter through Gate 1.
LED screens will be installed at five key points—Zero Point, Shaheed Minar, Jarultala, and the Science Faculty—for current students to watch the live broadcast. The entire event will be aired live on BTV. CU has instructed campus eateries and canteens to prepare ample food supplies. However, restaurants along Muhammad Yunus’s travel route will be closed after noon.
The convocation venue will be entirely offlimits from 3 PM the previous day until the ceremony starts. After the event, participants must return their gowns and collect their certificates and gifts from their respective departments. CU’s iconic shuttle train may also be decorated in celebration of the occasion.
Background: Chittagong University was established in 1966. The first convocation was held in 1994, the second in 1999, the third in 2008, and the fourth on 31 January 2016.
