Barishal University: What are the ministry and UGC doing?
Barisal University is running without a vice chancellor for five months. The registrar of the university was dismissed on moral grounds last April. Treasurer Mahbub Hasan has gone back in Dhaka University on 7 October. The chief examination controller’s post is also lying vacant. This has cast deep uncertainty over academic activities of the university.
It is unfortunate that neither the education ministry nor rhe University Grants Commission (UGC) seem to have taken any steps.
Although there are six faculties in the university, only two have their deans. One of those two deans is abroad on sick leave. So, the university is being run by only one dean right now. As a result, academic activities are being hampered and uncertainty looms over holding semester final examination.
Six months to one year session jam has already gripped different departments. Session jam would further extend if this stalemate continues.
More worryingly, the authorities failed to hold a syndicate meeting in the last four and half months. Also, questions has risen about legitimacy of the treasurer Mahbub Hasan’s spending Tk 120 million from government and personal funds.
How come three top posts of a university lie vacant? What are the education ministry and UGC doing?
A ministry official has said the VC would be appointed soon. But who would answer as to why the post was vacant so long? UGC can do nothing more than recommend appointments in any university. But does the education ministry remain indifferent?
The students of the university launched movement demanding VC Enamul Haque’s resignation in March this year. But education ministry had sent him on ‘forced leave’ in line with his wishes. Such negligence of the ministry centering a public university is inexcusable.
The situation is so bad that it would be tough to pay the salaries of teachers and staff if such situation lingers any longer. UGC approval is needed every three months for expenditure of a university but it has been stalled since there is no VC and treasurer in the university.
Administrative stalemate has also made the first year admission test of the university uncertain. The authorities had to suspend the admission tests date due to the vacancies. Most of the universities have already completed their entry tests. Even BUET held its admission test on time despite student movement centering Abrar Fahad’s death.
Barisal University authorities could not organise academic, financial and syndicate meetings for last six months due to vacancy in VC post.
Not only in Barishal University, no new VC has been recruited in Gopalganj’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Science and Technology University since resignation of its VC Mohammad Nasiruddin following student movement there. There are two ministers in education ministry—a full minister and a deputy minister. The duo often sermonise about discipline in the education department and institutions. How can they maintain indifference after a public university remains without VC and registrar for months?