Dhaka University students' teacher evaluation initiative sparks faculty backlash

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has launched the ‘DU Evaluation’ website, an initiative allowing students to rate university teachers. By September 13, 2026, approximately 6,489 students had participated in the evaluation process.

The initiative has faced significant backlash from faculty members. Teachers argue that the evaluation process should be a formal responsibility of the university administration and academic departments rather than a student union. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of confidentiality, as teacher scores were circulated on social media, leading to instances of mockery and trolling directed at individual faculty members.

In response to the criticism, DUCSU has since restricted users from viewing specific teacher scores on the website. Faculty members, including Professor Tariq Manzoor, have emphasized that while teacher feedback is necessary for improvement, it must be conducted formally and cautiously to avoid creating distance between students and educators.