Online Desk  :   Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Niaz Ahmad Khan called for separating politics from academic pursuits. Speaking at Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, whilst inaugurating the First Political Science Conference on Sunday DU VC emphasised maintaining academic independence during Bangladesh’s transitional democratic phase. “We must ensure educational institutions remain focused on knowledge creation rather than political interference,” he said.

His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about university autonomy following July’s student-mass uprising. Two-day conference titled “The State Reforms in Transitional Democracies: From Mass Uprising to Election and State Building” is organised jointly by Shadow Reform Commission (SRC), Shadow National Consensus Commission (SNCC) and Political and Policy Science Research Foundation (PPSF), attracted academics examining democratic transitions.

Professor Ali Riaz, Vice President of National Consensus Commission, presented the keynote paper addressing state-building processes. Professor Niaz Ahmad Khan stressed that whilst political science research remains vital for understanding democratic reforms, universities must maintain scholarly objectivity. “Academic freedom requires protection from external political pressures,” he explained, highlighting the delicate balance between research relevance and institutional independence.

Distinguished participants included National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah and Bangladesh Open University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Dil Rowshan Jinnat Ara Nazneen.
The programme features 60 research papers across 16 sessions, with university researchers presenting findings on transitional democracy challenges. Professor Kazi Mohammad Mahbobor Rahman, organising committee convener, welcomed delegates to discussions aimed at strengthening academic networks whilst preserving scholarly integrity.