Chhatra Dal Demands Lower Registration Fee for Jagannath University's Second Convocation

The Jagannath University unit of Chhatra Dal has demanded that the registration fee for the university's upcoming second convocation be reduced to a reasonable level. The organisation called for the fee to be reset with students' financial capacity in mind. As the convocation date approaches, dissatisfaction among students over the set fees is growing.

The demand was made in a statement sent to the media on Friday on behalf of the unit's convener Mehedi Hasan Himel and member secretary Shamsul Arefin. The statement urged the administration to cut the fee quickly.

According to the statement, Jagannath University's second convocation is scheduled for 30 January 2027. A convocation is one of the most important and memorable chapters of a student's life — the day years of hard work are recognised, and a day to celebrate with family.

But the statement said the fee set by the university administration for taking part in the convocation has become a financial burden for most students. For many, raising that sum at short notice is difficult, especially for those who fund their own studies alongside their coursework.

Chhatra Dal leaders said students meet their study costs through long hours of hard work and private tutoring. Setting an additional high convocation fee on top of that, they said, is closing the door to participation for many students. Such fee-setting, they added, does not accord with the principles of a people-oriented university.

They further said a convocation is not a commercial event; it is a day of students' rights and joy. The fee should therefore be set at a level where every eligible student of the university can join this historic occasion. Their central point is that no one should be shut out of their own day of achievement because of money.

In the statement, the Chhatra Dal leaders called on the university administration to reduce the convocation fee to a reasonable level quickly, taking students' means and the overall situation into account. They also expressed hope that the administration would heed the demand.

For context, for the second convocation on 30 January 2027 the administration has set a registration fee of 5,000 taka and an original certificate fee of 500 taka for bachelor's (honours), BBA and equivalent students. For master's and MBA students, the registration fee is 6,000 taka with a certificate fee of 500 taka.

For MPhil and PhD researchers, the registration fee has been set at 6,500 taka and the certificate fee at 1,000 taka. Students of professional and evening programmes face a registration fee of 8,000 taka and a certificate fee of 800 taka. The variation in fees between levels has also sparked discussion among students.

The statement noted that these fees are almost double the registration fee of the first convocation. The near-doubling in one jump has triggered anger and discontent among students, many of whom are voicing demands for a review on social media and elsewhere.

A large section of students argues that convocation is one of the proudest days of university life. If money becomes a barrier to attending that day, the hurt is felt not only by the student but by their family as well. Demands for a student-friendly decision on fees are therefore growing louder.

All eyes are now on the university administration. After Chhatra Dal's formal demand, students are waiting to see whether the administration resets the fee or announces some alternative concession. A decision before registration moves further ahead would ease much of the students' anxiety, observers say.