[ad_1]
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has found evidence of corruption and wrongdoing against the Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi University (UK), Professor M Abdus Sobhan, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chowdhury Zakaria, and several other senior officials.
Last Wednesday, the UGC investigative committee presented its report to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with recommendations following an investigation into allegations of corruption against these top RBI figures.
Dil Afroz Begum, a member of the UGC and head of the investigation committee, confirmed the information to The Daily Star on Friday.
At the end of the investigation, the investigation committee found evidence of the veracity of a total of 25 accusations made against the vice chancellor, the vice chancellor and some other RBI officials.
In the investigation report, the Vice Chancellor Professor Abdus Sobhan, Deputy Vice Chancellor Chowdhury. The UGC recommended an investigation into the source of movable and immovable property of some university professors and their dependents, including Zakaria and the interim professor of registration Abdul Bari.
The report also recommended the removal of the university’s registrar, Professor Abdul Bari, for not cooperating in the investigation.
It emerged that on January 4 of this year, 62 teachers and two job seekers filed a 300-page complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the UGC. The charge sheet accused them of corruption, nepotism and illegal recruitment.
Subsequently, under the direction of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Education, Professor Dil Afroza Begum, a member of the UGC, was summoned to investigate the allegations and the UGC formed a committee. In the interest of a proper investigation, the investigation committee also organized an open hearing to present the statements of both parties.
Speaking to the investigation committee, it emerged that a total of 638 pages of investigation report with recommendations have been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education and the Anti-Corruption Commission. There is an original report of 37 pages and a companion report of 600 pages.
The investigation has found evidence of 25 irregularities and corruption against the rector and others of the university administration. There are also serious allegations of giving false information to the president (Acharya) about voluntary retirement, nepotism in the appointment of teachers, appointment of chairmen of various departments in violation of rules and financial transactions.
The report said the chancellor had deliberately relaxed the teacher hiring policy and appointed his daughter and son-in-law as teachers at the university.
In addition, through this relaxed rule, 34 relatively less qualified candidates have been recruited for the hiring of professors in different departments of the university.
The UGC report also recommended cancellation of the recruitment of all teachers (34 teachers), officers and staff following the relaxed policy.
The investigation report also recommended that the Vice Chancellor occupy a university duplex house for 18 months under various pretexts and collect Rs 5 lakh 61,600 from interested persons, including the Vice Chancellor for rent.
Convener professor of the UGC research committee. Dil Afroza Begum said: “The investigation report with the investigation committee’s recommendations was presented to the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday and to the Ministry of Education and the Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday. We have received evidence of complaints against some senior officials and professors of the university. The authorities concerned will take the necessary measures on the basis of the investigation report.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdus Sobhan, could not be contacted to find out. He was called several times but did not receive.
The rector later sent a letter through the university’s public relations office, saying: “The position of the university administration will be clarified through a press conference on Sunday.”
