Comilla University VC's irregularities at every step!
The vice chancellor of Comilla University has been accused of resorting to irregularities at every step.
Teachers, students and officials of the university spoke to the Prothom Alo correspondent about the widespread misdemeanors of the VC.
VC professor Md Ali Ashraf, however, denied the allegations and termed them 'false'.
Although the university is officially declared free from politics, in reality politics pervades throughout.
Lesser qualified applicants have been selected over more qualified applicants as teachers, based on political affiliation, nepotism and regionalism.
Being a teacher of Chittagong University, the VC favours students and teachers of that university for appointments and other work.
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student of ruling Awami League, has opened up an office on the university campus.
Comilla University was founded on 28 May 2006 adjacent to Kotbari Shalban Bihar and Mainamati Museum some 11 kilometers southwest of Comilla town.
Classes started a year after its establishment. It has around 5,395 students in 19 departments.
VC Md Ali Ashraf was a teacher of economics at Chittagong University. He was appointed as VC of Comilla University in 2013 for a four-year tenure.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, certain teachers and officials said after the recruitment of the current VC, the students and teachers of Chittagong University were given priority in all types of recruitments including of teachers and admin officials.
In the latest recruitment, four out of five teachers in computer science and engineering were recruited from among students of Chittagong University.
Four out of five teachers in the information and communication technology department, two out of three in the mass communication and journalism department and four out of five in the finance and banking department are from Chittagong University.
Proctor Kazi Mohammad Kamal Uddin was a student of economics at Chittagong University. Three out of four of proctorial body are from Chittagong University. Students' counsellor Muhammad Ahsan Ullah is also from Chittagong University. Three provosts out of four at residential halls are from Chittagong University.
Chittagong University teachers are given priority as experts in the formation of the recruitment board.
The VC claimed, "We recruit on the basis of merit, not from any particular university."
On recruitment in administration posts, he said it is the jurisdiction of the VC to recruit some posts for administration including proctor and provosts.
Comilla University has 175 teachers. Of the 60 teachers recruited under the current VC, 25 are students of Chittagong University.
Teachers at Comilla University raised allegations that the education qualifications for recruitment to the English Department were downgraded in order to recruit persons of the VC's choice.
In the recruitment of seven departments, the required qualifications were first class both in graduation and post-graduate or GPA-3.60 or 3.70. But for English, the required qualification was second class both in graduation and post-graduation or GPA or CGPA 3.35.
In an investigation, it was found that the person was appointed had GPA 3.37. Although there were more qualified persons, they were not recruited. Several teachers alleged the candidate who was recruited is a relative of VC.
In recruitment for the statistics department, two including chairman out of six of the selection committee have given note of dissent for allegations of irregularities.
Two children of freedom fighters having necessary qualifications were not recruited in the Bangla Department.
About irregularities in the recruitment, VC Ali Ashraf said these allegations are completely false. Recruitments were given on the basis of merit, he claimed.
Comilla University is officially free from politics and smoking. Fresh students have to sign that they will be committed to keeping the Comilla University campus free from politics and smoking.
According to students and teachers, Chhatra League openly started politics after 2009. Bangladesh Chhatra League formed a convening committee in 2012.
Chhatra Dal, the student wing of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), also formed a committee, but it can't enter the campus. BCL dominates the campus.
According to the National Pay Scale, there is no scope to take deputation allowance. But Ali Ashraf is taking it. Earlier, he took as deputation allowance, but now he takes Tk 15,298 in the name of VC allowance. If there is no dean in any faculty, VC discharges duties of dean, but he is not supposed to take allowance for this. But the VC takes it as charge allowance.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, science faculty dean Md Abu Taher, who is known to be against the VC, said various types of irregularities and corruptions are taking place in the university now. And the VC is responsible for it, he alleged.
Chairman of the University Grants Commission professor Abdul Mannan said measures will be taken if official allegations are lodged.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.