‘BUET VC is an abject failure’

Former professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Zoynul Abedin.
Former professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Zoynul Abedin.
Former professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Zoynul Abedin was the elected president of BUET Teachers’ Association for four terms. In a recent interview, he spoke to Prothom Alo about the situation in BUET after the killing of Abrar Fahad.

Prothom Alo: Student politics was banned in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) after the killing of Soni, but that ban never came into effect. Is there any reason to believe that the present ban after the killing of Abrar Fahad will be implemented?

Zoynul Abedin: Student politics has not been banned. What has been banned is student’s party politics. This ban can never be effective without the cooperation of the political parties. Student politics is actually about policies to uphold the student welfare and student rights. It is more than enough to follow the BUET ordinance provisions concerning the BUET’s central students’ union EUCSU and the hall unions. This ordinance specifies the responsibilities of the vice presidents and secretaries of the central students union and the hall unions.

These unions must hold regular meetings to look into the problems of the general students. They must organise programmes and events to help the students develop their human qualities. Such training is vital for those who will practice politics in the future. I am unaware if there is provision for such training in organisation-based politics.

The first step to halting party-based student politics is to hold regular elections to the student unions. The unions are ineffective because these are affiliated with political parties.

Prothom Alo: You were the director of student welfare (DSW) when Soni was killed. What is the difference with that incident and the killing of Abrar?

Zoynul Abedin: Soni’s death was the tragic consequence of clashes over tenders. Certain BUET students associated with the ruling party at the time and rowdy elements from outside were involved in the violence. Quite some time before the incident, the BUET vice chancellor had sent several letters to the prime minister at the time. The Lalbagh police had also be apprised of possible tender violence. But unfortunately, no steps were taken. An inquiry committee was formed after Soni’s murder, but the university administration was untouched.

The context of Abrar’s murder is different. Apparently a number of unruly students of the ruling party’s student wing were responsible for the incident. This was a planned murder which took place in the ‘torture cell’ of Sher-e-Bangla Hall. But neither the hall administration nor the BUET administration took any action. The blame falls on the university administration.

The vice chancellor’s inaction has rendered the university and hall administration ineffective. He lacks the moral strength required of a university’s vice chancellor. He tries to display his strength through his political loyalty and indulges the students of the ruing political camp. This position is responsible to a great extent for the present predicament of BUET.

Prothom Alo: When did all this start? You were with BUET till 2017.

Zoynul Abedin: The dominance of ruling party students began in 2001 after the general election. In 2009, for the first time a pro-VC was appointed to BUET. And in 2010 with the appointment of professor Nazrul Islam as VC, party-affiliated students dominated the scene. Partisan teachers, officials and employees all wielded their clout. Power politics reached a height with the appointment of the present VC.

At various times there were irregularities in the halls, there was the movement to postpone the exams. Certain students would secretly remain in the halls even after passing out from the university. But there were no torture cells then.

There is the matter of ragging. Ragging basically began at the architecture department. When I was the DSW, certain parents complained to me that their children were being harassed. We could take no action for want of evidence. The guardians were worried that if no action was taken after their complaints, they would face a backlash. Ragging stopped at the architecture department then.

Prothom Alo: We hear of sexual ragging now.

Zoynul Abedin: No such complaints were made when I was the DSW. I have heard that now such ragging takes place, though there is no specific information.

Prothom Alo: Without entering into the debate of prohibiting student politics, can BUET halt illegitimate organisations on campus through the relevant ordinance?

Zoynul Abedin: The ordinance maintains that no student can have any organisation without the permission of the DSW. But there is nothing specified. It is the academic council that must take measures. The government must be told that this is a specialised institution with separate laws.

After the independence of the country, four of the six universities had democratic ordinance, but Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not permit that ordinance to apply to BUET and Bangladesh Agricultural University. He said that appropriate ordinances would be drawn up for the technical universities. But Bangabandhu was killed in 1975 and that did not happen. I believe that Bangabandhu intentionally did not place BUET and the agricultural university under the 1973 ordinance like the other universities.

Prothom Alo: Did Bangabandhu want to keep BUET away from partisan student politics?

Zoynul Abedin: I think so. He evaluated BUET is a special way as a higher educational institute of engineering and technology. The prime minister has said, let BUET take a decision about student politics. I think that is much on the same lines as Bangabandhu’s policy.

Prothom Alo: Whenever there is violence and bloodshed on any campus, it is said that the ruling party must take a leading role. But what if it does not? Then BUET should do the job, implement the ordinance. Will that happen?

Zoynul Abedin: There are misgivings about the VC’s role. It does not seem as if he owns BUET. It is as if it is just a job. He simply has taken ad hoc decisions to keep the immediate situation under control. If it is possible to ensure punishment for violation of discipline, then BUET will manage to overcome the present situation at least. But political parties must come to an understanding if a long-term solution is to be reached. The teachers must prove they have backbones. The VC is simply appointing people loyal to him. This must be stopped. I do not recall ever before in BUET that a VC has changed appointments to any office under pressure from the students. This is unbelievable.

Prothom Alo: How can the provision for suspension be made effective in BUET? There are no rules in this regard.

Zoynul Abedin: This is a long-standing BUET culture which existed in my time too. There are no written rules in this regard. We would follow this to keep the students in line. Then again, the serious crimes which are taking place now, did not take place then.

Prothom Alo: After such serious incidents, shouldn’t the VC resign? He has just 6 months left in office. How should the next VC be appointed?

Zoynul Abedin: It is not easy to say who will be a good VC. Before the present VC, Khaleda Ekram was made VC with disregard to seniority. I was president of the teachers’ association at the time. I took the decision not to felicitate the new VC and said that the appointment was not acceptable. But as VC she won everybody’s confidence. She was a good administrator. She won over everyone.

The present VC was the most senior when he was appointed and we felicitated him. But he is an abject failure. We are shocked. I hope an extensive investigation is conducted externally. It is the tradition of BUET VCs to inspect the campus in the morning. The present VC doesn’t even stay on campus though one of the conditions of appointment is that the VC stays on campus.

Prothom Alo: Professor Ainun Nishat has said that the VC has the power to sell BUET if he wants. Since it requires a quorum of five members for the board of residence, disciplinary action can be taken without the VC too. Are you in favour of the teachers to using their authority to issue show cause notices on those in various posts of unauthorised organisations?

Zoynul Abedin: It is true that the VC has a lot of power. Ainun Nishat was perhaps joking about his being able to sell BUET. It is difficult to take any disciplinary measures without the VC’s cooperation. The ordinance may give teachers authority, but the disciplinary committee must be informed. The VC is the president of the disciplinary committee. This law has not been used for long and so initially they may be given a letter of warning. A deadline can be imposed for the activities of these persons in various positions in unauthorised organisations on campus. If anyone persists in these activities after the deadline, then disciplinary action can be taken.

Prothom Alo: Does BUET have the capacity to do so?

Zoynul Abedin: It does. The BUET teachers association and alumni association must persist in this effort. If they make a sincere effort, the political parties will grasp ground reality. At the end of the day, the political parties do not take liability of the political miscreants. The teachers must display moral strength in carrying out their duties. They must realise BUET is a unique educational institute where the most meritorious students of the country study. They are our children. The people have confidence in BUET. We have been damaged somewhat, but not destroyed.

Prothom Alo: Thank you.

Zoynul Abedin: Thank you.

* This interview appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir.