700 irregular appointments at RU on political consideration
UGC probe reveals
Rajshahi University authorities recruited over 700 people including teachers irregularly in last 10 years.
Most of the recruitments were made on political consideration, violating the University Act and UGC rules, according to a probe by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The UGC body led by its member and founder chairman of RU Anthropology department Prof Zihadul Karim began the probe on Sunday. Other members of the team are UGC Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman and officials Abdul Jalil and Ferdous Mannan.
UGC sources said, they found that RU authorities illegally appointed more then 700 teachers, officials and employees, violating university rules and without maintaining UGC norms. Most of the recruitments were done under political consideration and even appointment rules were not followed.
RU authorities appointed more then 100 teachers who did not deserve the posts as per their academic background. Over 600 officials and employees were also recruited on political considerations.
The probe body continued investigation yesterday. It would leave the campus today.
The probe report will be submitted to the UGC and the education ministry within seven days.
The sources said the university authorities created posts to recruit people without UGC approval and deserving candidates having better academic records were left out to accommodate inferior candidates under political consideration. In cases, more people were recruited against vacant posts, the sources said.
The probe body also found that in 2004, the then Jamaat-backed RU authorities appointed 544 third and fourth-class employees against 255 vacant posts in gross violation of university rules.
The probe body also interviewed RU vice-chancellor, Pro-vice chancellor, treasurer, registrar, and some teachers and officials who were involved in the recruitments.
The team also took away related files, papers and documents, sources said.
Talking to the Daily Star, probe body convener Prof Zihadul Karim, he said the university faces budgetary problem every year due to the 'mass recruitment', which also tells upon the quality of education.
The political recruitments also created an administrative crisis in the university, he said.
When contacted, RU acting vice-chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat, said the university authorities are cooperating with the probe committee.
When asked about irregular recruitments, he said the university appointed the manpower against vacant posts.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments