Unelected VCs for 26 yrs

Unelected vice chancellors (VC) have been running the Chittagong University for the last 26 years. The polls to elect registered graduates' representatives have not been held in the last 28 years either. As a result, the university authorities have no accountability and the VC's word is final in any situation.

As per the 1973 Ordinance, on which the CU is run, the president would name a VC from a panel of three nominated by the Senate. Since 1991, as many as nine VCs and acting VCs have run the institution, but none of them were elected. All of them got the position through an executive order of the government.

 None of them called for an election of the university panel, too. A few tried to hold an election, but that was an attempt to secure the position for a second term. However, the elections were never held.

 A number of senior teachers told Prothom Alo, the 1973 Ordinance is outdated now. Whoever has been named the VC has turned a blind eye to the ordinance to serve his own purpose. As a result, the authorities have no one to hold him accountable.

 Professor Moinul Islam of the university's economics department said only those who are good at lobbying are becoming VCs now. As far as these elections are concerned, the CU lags the farthest behind among the universities, he observed.

 The Chittagong University was established in 1966, some 22 kilometres off the port city. Around 24,000 students are studying at the university at present.

 During the tenure of military ruler HM Ershad, two VCs were elected to the chair. In 1986, Mohammad Ali became the first elected VC. When he left the post in 1988, Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin was named an acting VC. He then called an election of the VC's panel, which he subsequently won.

 However, when the BNP government came to power in 1991, Sirajuddin was removed. And that was the beginning of this unfortunate practice.

The present CU vice chancellor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that they would soon start getting the graduates registered. Once the registered graduates' representatives are elected and the other vacant Senate posts are filled in, an election to the VC's panel could be held, he hoped.

 A senior teacher seeking anonymity said when a VC is elected by a senate, he is accountable to them. But unelected VCs don't have to answer to anyone. So, they do whatever they want, including appointing people loyal to him.

 University Grants Commission chairman Abdul Mannan, a former VC of the university, claimed that he had taken preparations to hold an election to the VC's panel, but that could not be held due to a court order. An election to the VC's panel is a must, he added.

 As per the rules, at least 25 of the 101-strong Senate have to be registered graduates who would serve for three years. The last time these representatives were elected was in 1986. The next election was to be held in 1989, but that did not take place. The university rules say if no polls are held, the elected ones will continue to serve on the Senate. However, the ones elected in 1986 are uncomfortable to stay on so long. Many among them have passed away too.

Professor M Abdul Gafur, who was elected in 1986, said these elections should be held on a regular basis. Thousands of students graduate every year, but they regrettably have no representation in the Senate, he added.