Various allegations, especially related to sexual assaults and corruption, against present and former vice-chancellors (VC) of country’s about a dozen public universities, have caused deep concern in the education sector and the whole nation as well. As per the information received, unstable situations at different public universities of the country are the main reasons behind the misbehavior of the teachers and the allegations of sexual harassments and corruption against them.
According to sources, at the Ministry of Education Affairs, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Anti-Corruption Commission have received a large number of allegations against those VCs. Following the allegations and considering it a sorry state of the country’s education sector and degradation of moralities, the government has initiated coming to a solution and, therefore, the Ministry of Education Affairs ordered for probes into the allegations against those VCs of different public universities.
Accordingly, the UGC and the ACC authorities have started investigations separately into the allegations received.The ACC last Sunday (Sept 22) asked its compliant security cell to bring all the allegations of corruption against the VCs under its scrutiny.According to information received, allegations of graft, corruption and irregularities in the recruitment process, embezzlements of funds, nepotism and even of sexual harassments were being found against a mentionable number of VCs.
Those VCs having such types of allegations include Prof. Md. Alauddin of Moulana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) in Tangail, Prof. AHM Mostafizur Rahman of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Prof. M Abul Kashem of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Prof. Kamal Uddin Ahmed of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Prof. Khandaker Nasiruddin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) in Gopalganj and Prof. Mohammad Ahsan Ullah of Islamic Arabic University (IAU) in Dhaka.
Besides, same allegations have been found against Prof SM Imamul Huq, former VC of Barishal University, Prof Iftekhar Uddin, former VC of Chattogram University, Prof Abdus Sattar, former VC of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST), and Prof. Mohammad Wahiduzzaman, former VC of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU).
It has become a matter of concern that allegations of sexual harassment and corruption against a large number of teachers of various universities, colleges, schools, madrasas and other educational institutions are found frequently in recent times.The UGC Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah has termed the scenario in the country’s education sector, mainly of the public university teachers, as shocking.
“There are various allegations against several public university VCs and those are shocking”, the UGC Chairman said. while adding, a large number of VCs remained under the UGC investigation and the UGC will submit probe reports against them to the Ministry of Education.Besides, prominent academicians and educationalists expressed their concern over the existing sorry state of the education sector and the degradation of morality of the university teachers.
Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University, said, “The trend of the current society is to make profit by any means. But, the university is not a business entity although the task here should be quite different.” The prominent academician held political appointment of VCs at different public universities responsible for corruptions and involvement in other crimes.