DU admin flouts rules to appoint ‘loyal’ teachers

More than 125 teachers have been recruited for Dhaka University in the past eight and a half years in violation of the rules in one way or the other, reveals an investigation into the hiring process.

The administration of current DU vice chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique has given appointment to 907 teachers to 'serve party politics' and 'create a pool of loyalists', stakeholders alleged.

This recruitment en masse means almost half of Dhaka University's 1,992 serving teachers are hired during the tenure of Arefin Siddique, a stalwart of pro-Awami League Blue Panel group of teachers.

A series of complaints say at least 78 teachers have been appointed during the period by relaxing required educational qualifications or depriving more qualified candidates.

Ten other people have been made teachers in two departments although they did not meet minimum educational requirements for the advertised positions in time of recruitment. Three more persons managed to secure appointment as teachers without having post-graduation degree.

Records also show as many as 41 recruitments have been made, exceeding the number of positions for hiring teachers as published in the advertisements.

While dealing with any reports of irregularities in recruitment whenever published in the media, the vice chancellor referred the matters to the selection board, chaired by pro-vice chancellor (academic) Nasreen Ahmad, who replaced present National University VC Harun-or-Rashid, as the pro-VC responsible for the board.

When contacted, Nasreen Ahmad denied gross irregularities but said there might have been some irregularities in some cases for certain reasons.

In recent times, a few members of the university syndicate raised objections to recruitment of six teachers at the International Business department for lack of adequate qualifications. But, the teachers alleged, such questionable recruitment was approved by the committees concerned since the vice chancellor has absolute control over the university.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association president professor ASM Maksud Kamal, elected from the Blue Panel, said he is among many teachers who are concerned about such recruitment.

“I told the VC that you and I will not remain forever on the campus...We need to think twice about in whose hands we are leaving the university if the teachers’ recruitment process is like this,” he recalled.

Two of the teachers, who were reportedly engaged in a brawl with students during a demonstration at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on 29 July, were allegedly recruited through questionable means.

One of them, Abdullah Al Muneem of the Tourism and Management department, has been hired as lecturer although his CGPA in Bachelor’s degree was 3.70 as against above 3.75 required as per advertisement.

The other, Ibrahim Mia of Microbiology department, has been recruited, despite there being more qualified candidates and also despite the fact that the then chairman of the department submitted an objection to this in writing.

A few recruits at Arefin Siddique's own department, Mass Communications and Journalism, during his tenure as VC, were also present during the encounter with the students who demanded holding of students' union elections.

The irregularities in teachers' recruitment were exacerbeted by conflict of interest between rival groups within the Blue Panel -- one led by VC Arefin Siddique and the other by Maksud Kamal, according to the findings of the investigation. The issue came to the surface when abortive attempt was made to prepare a VC panel recently.

When asked, VC Arefin Siddique said on Monday that the discussions and criticisms on such issues were normal. "I have nothing to say about this."

When he took office in 2009, the number of teachers at the university was around 1200. Of 907 teachers recruited so far during his tenure, at least 110 joined newly opened departments, according to information available with the university's registrar's office. The university has over 37,000 students at 83 departments and 12 institutes.

The first major allegation of recruitment of more teachers than the advertised number was raised in 2010 when 15 of 17 recruits at the Fine Arts Institute were less qualified and known to be leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of ruling Awami League.

Following a writ petition challenging recruitment of teachers at the philosophy department, the Supreme Court on Thursday declared the process illegal and void.

Securing higher grades, especially standing first, second or third position at the departmental exams, is customarily considered requirement for recruitment.

The university syndicate, at a meeting on 17 February 2013, decided to allow recruitment of one teacher more than the number of vacant positions, provided there was recommendation from the department.

On 12 July, the syndicate endorsed recruitment of nine teachers at two departments of Business Faculty but six of them did not meet the minimum requirement.

A major deviation from the rules was observed at the 16 July 2016 meeting of the syndicate, when 11 teachers were recruited for the Computer Science and Engineering department, against only two advertised positions.

Two months later, in September that year, the syndicate recruited nine teachers for the Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology department, three of whom did not have post-graduation degree.

On 21 June 2016, none of the four teachers recruited for the printing and publications department fulfilled the requirements whereas there were other candidates did. On the same day, two additional recruitments were made for the statistics department and five for the nuclear engineering department.

On 16 June seven teachers were hired for the international relations department, as against the advertised posts of four. Allegations have it that the additional recruitments were made to pave the way for the entry of a former BCL president's wife.

On 24 December 2014, six teachers were hired for the Islamic studies department, against advised posts of two. One of them, who had the merit position 19, got the appointment letter since he was a former vice president of BCL.

When asked, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University SMA Faiz said the top priority for recruitment of teacher is merit. "Your likes or dislikes may come later on." he pointed out.

He strongly felt that teachers are the heart of a university. "The university will collapse unless meritorious students are recruited as teachers. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements should not be called for interview," said professor Faiz.

* This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print version, has been rewritten in English by Khawaza Main Uddin and Imam Hossain.