SUST teachers protest anomaly in recruitment

The meeting was continuing when the report was filed at 7 pm.

The Association's president, Shushanta Kumar Das, told this correspondent over mobile phone that the meeting was discussing an action programme to protest the irregularities.

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On Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the Association met and discussed the situation.

The SUST Syndicate at a meeting on February 19 approved these appointments, suggested by a selection committee, which interviewed the candidates days ago.

Fifty-seven teachers have been appointed against 41 posts in 16 departments, for which newspaper advertisements were published months ago. Six others were also kept in the waiting list. Sources claimed that those in the waiting list would be appointed later without any formality.

In another five departments, teachers have been appointed without newspaper advertisement.

Two out of five members of the selection committee did not sign the proposal alleging lack of transparency.

They are Dr. Reza-E-Karim Khondaker, Dean of Social Science and Dr Tulsi Kumar Das head of Social Works department.

Dr. Tulshi Kumar had also raised objection against some of the appointments in his department. Two days before the Syndicate meeting, he had written a letter to the Registrar and requested him not to appoint those people. He also sent copies of the letter to the SUST Chancellor (the President), Acting VC and to Syndicate members.

Four teachers have been appointed in the department of Social Science against advertisement for two posts. Another person is on the waiting list for appointment.

In Statistics department, five appointments have been made against four advertised posts. Three others are in the in waiting list.

Six teachers have been appointed against four advertised posts in Civil and Environmental Engineering department, three against two in Chemistry, five against four in Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science department, nine against six in Computer Science and Engineering and five against two in English department.

The SUST authorities also violated University Grants Commission rules in the appointments, they said.

Nine persons have been appointed in posts of administrative officer against four advertised posts. Two others have been appointed assistant administrative officers without any advertisement. One of the administrative officers will perform the duty of Assistant Registrar. Three computer operators have been appointed against two advertised posts.

Seniority was not taken into consideration in promoting two assistant engineers.

The SUST Officers Association also held an emergency meeting on Sunday and demanded that there should be transparency in appointment of officials.

When contacted, an official preferring anonymity admitted the irregularities, but claimed that it is regular practice by almost all the public universities.