Trimohoni Bazar falls under Dhaka's Khilgaon Police Station. Just across the bamboo bridge over the Balu river lies the quiet and quaint Daserkandi area.
A short distance from there can be covered by a battery-run rickshaw, but soon begins a muddy road cutting through low wetlands. The path leaves no option but to walk.
After about 20 minutes on foot, one comes across an under-construction two-storey building.
This is the permanent campus of Sonargaon University, which began its journey in 2012 with temporary approval.
On the afternoon of 7 August, the main gate of the premises was found to be closed, with no teachers or students in the vicinity. However, a few people were spotted playing carrom on the ground floor, where the construction of four classrooms has been completed.
Upon speaking to them, it was learned that they were the building's designated caretakers.
On 3 May this year, the permanent campus of this private university, which has over 7,000 students, was inaugurated with just these four classrooms, with authorities boldly announcing that regular classes would be conducted on this campus.
However, teachers and students say that all activities are still being carried out in the temporary buildings in the capital's Panthapath and Mohakhali areas.
According to the Private University Act of 2010, temporary approval of a licence is granted for seven years.
Within this period, a private university must establish a permanent campus on its own land, construct infrastructure, and fulfil seven conditions in order to obtain a certificate to conduct permanent academic activities.
Universities that fail to meet these conditions may apply for a five-year renewal of their temporary approval before its expiration. Sonargaon University has already availed this facility.
Still, 13 years after getting a licence, it has not shifted to a permanent campus.
Section 12 of the law states that if any university fails to meet conditions, all admission and academic activities must be shut down.
In line with that, a letter was sent from the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education to the UGC on April 8 of this year, instructing action against 16 private universities that failed to move to permanent campuses within the stipulated time.
They include Sonargaon University, The People's University of Bangladesh, University of Development Alternative, Stamford University Bangladesh, The Millenium University, Presidency University, Primeasia University, ASA University Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, North East University Bangladesh, Ishakha International University Bangladesh, North Western University, Feni University, Britannia University, Port City International University and Independent University.
However, Sonargaon University seems to be one step ahead. After the Ministry of Education passed its instructions, its authorities hastily inaugurated their permanent campus.
Now, the UGC says it is reviewing what measures can be taken against the universities.
UGC member (private universities) Professor Anwar Hossain told Stream, "The matter is under process. No decision can be taken that would harm students. That is why the issue is being carefully considered. We are reviewing what kind of actions may be taken."
Everything at temporary campus
Conversations with teachers, officials, and students at Sonargaon University's campus in the capital's Panthapath on 10 August and 17 August revealed that nearly all activities, from admissions to administrative and academic tasks, are carried out at this campus.
Due to a shortage of space, an adjacent building is also being used to provide arrangements for faculty and staff.
The university also has a campus at Mohakhali's Wireless Gate, where classes for four departments are conducted.
According to the registrar's office, the university offers undergraduate programmes under 15 departments and nine post-graduate programmes under two departments.
The Mohakhali campus hosts classes of the departments of fashion design and technology, textile engineering, architecture, and apparel merchandising, while the remaining classes are held at the Panthapath campus.
At the inauguration of the permanent campus in Khilgaon on 3 May, the university authorities stated that classes for four departments would be conducted at this campus.
Queried about this, Sonargaon University Registrar SM Nurul Huda told Stream that classes for the law, Bangla, journalism and media studies, and BBA departments are currently being held three days a week at the permanent campus.
Registrar Huda said, "With UGC's approval, partial academic activities of the four departments are being conducted at the permanent campus. The UGC has also inspected our activities."
Yet, teachers and students of the relevant departments contested this, saying no classes are currently held at the permanent campus.
Admissions office officials also confirmed that classes for these departments are conducted at the Panthapath campus and would continue to be held there.
A campus in limbo
On 24 January 2020, the authorities of Sonargaon University laid the foundation stone for the construction of the permanent campus at a two-acre plot.
Former member of parliament from Narayanganj-2 and member of the university's Board of Trustees, Nazrul Islam Babu, attended as chief guest and laid the foundation stone.
However, over the past five and a half years, only the ground floor and a portion of the second floor of the building have been completed.
University authorities claim that they plan to move all activities to the permanent campus soon. However, the road leading to the campus remains in a dilapidated state, causing delays.
To inquire about this matter, multiple visits were made to the office of Sonargaon University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Shamim Ara Hasan, but she could not be reached. Her mobile phone was also found to be switched off.
The acting pro-vice-chancellor, Professor Bulbul Ahmed, advised speaking with the registrar instead.
For now, the future of Sonargaon University is as uncertain as its permanent campus is unfinished. The deserted buildings and muddy roads tell one story, while the authorities' claims tell another.
Until this gap is closed, students remain caught in the middle, their academic journey dependent on temporary solutions and uncertain outcomes.
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