Recruitment bar on RU till 2010
UGC probe body suggests action against persons behind 'mass appointments' during BNP-Jamaat rule
The University Grants Commission (UGC) probe committee, which found gross irregularities in recruitment of 700 teachers and employees at Rajshahi University (RU) since 2004, has asked the RU authorities not to recruit any manpower till 2010.
“We have asked the Rajshahi University authorities not to recruit any manpower till 2010. If any emergency recruitment is needed, they must take permission from the UGC. We also asked the university authorities to reduce their budget deficit,” Prof Zihadul Karim, head of the four-member probe committee, said yesterday.
On Tuesday night, the probe committee comprising UGC Member Prof Zihadul Karim, also founder chairman of RU anthropology department, UGC Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman and officials Abdul Jalil and Ferdous Mannan, concluded investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption in manpower recruitment at RU during the last ten years.
The committee found that the RU authorities recruited over 700 staff including teachers, officers and employees, violating the University Act and UGC rules since 2004.
The UGC probe body also found that most of the recruitments were made on political consideration.
“We found that the Rajshahi University authorities illegally appointed more than 700 teachers, officials and employees, violating university rules and without maintaining UGC rules and regulations since 2004,” Prof Karim told this correspondent.
Qualified candidates giving better academic records were left out while less meritorious persons were recruited in the process, he said.
The investigation team that took away related files, papers and documents, also found that in 2004, the then BNP-Jamaat-backed RU authorities appointed 544 third and fourth-class employees against 255 vacant posts in gross violation of university rules.
“We will submit the investigation report to the UGC and the Ministry of Education within seven days. We will recommend taking action against the people who were involved in mass recruitment at RU in 2004,” Prof Karim said.
When contacted, RU acting Registrar Prof Muhammad Shafi told newsmen that the UGC probe body investigation is a scheduled one and part of regular investigation.
Teachers and student organisations have demanded punishment of the people responsible for massive political recruitment at RU in 2004.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments