Frustration grips the graduates waiting to attend the 10th convocation of Rajshahi University (RU), as the authorities have yet to announce the date of the programme even though two months have elapsed since the registration process ended.    

The disheartened graduates are blaming the RU authorities for the delay.

Md Helal A Siam, a graduate, said, “It remains a dream for me to participate in the convocation."

Terming the authorities' delay in declaring the convocation date a failure, he said, "It is really frustrating."

Mentionable, the university administration opened the online registration process on November 3 last year setting the deadline on November 30 only for those who earned their masters, MBBS, BDS, MPhil and PhD degrees between 2011 and 2014.

The registration fee was fixed at Tk 3,570, which created discontent among the graduates.   

Another graduate, Shamim Rahman, said they have spent a good amount of money for the registration.

But the university administration has yet to inform when the programme will take place, he said, demanding that the authorities fix a date as soon as possible.     

Some of the graduates even submitted a letter to the university administration on November 23, requesting it to decrease the fee and extend the registration deadline. Upon request, deadline was extended for December 10. But the fee was not curtailed.

Later the deadline was extended again until December 15, for the last time, according to the university website.

The graduates questioned why the authorities have hurriedly closed the registration process whereas they failed to announce the convocation date. They urged the RU administration to take necessary measures to hold the programme soon.

Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan said, “The university authorities have tried to get the Chancellor's permission to hold the convocation programme, but have not got it yet. We are trying our best to communicate with the Chancellor to fix a date for the programme.”

While talking with The Daily Star, RU VC Prof M Mizanuddin said, “We have already prepared everything for the convocation, but have not got a final date from the education ministry to hold the programme. We have sent a letter to the ministry; now we are waiting for their reply.”