Nazmussakib, JnU Correspondent
Jagannath University (JnU) students would be given University Grants Commission's interest-free soft loans for buying smartphones to take part in online education programmes amid COVID-19 pandemic by this month.
Professor Dr. Nasir Uddin, Director of JnU Finance and Account office confirming the information said, several departments have already submitted final lists of students for the loans and cheques would be provided to these departments within this month. Students of other departments that are yet to apply would be given the loans afterwards if they submit the application.
Notably, on October 4 last year UGC decided to provide interest free loans to 41,501 insolvent students of thirty-nine public universities of the country for ensuring their participation in online education activities. Each student will get highest TK 8,000 as soft loan under this initiative.
Following applications, 3,006 students of the university were primarily selected for the loans. However, According to the Finance and Account office of the university, although they asked for final applications from the students already, they have not received expected respond from the students. Only 500 students of 24 departments have submitted final applications for the loans.
On December 24, register office of the university in a written notice said that the loans would be given within January 31 and the students have to submit purchasing voucher of the device to the chairmen of their respective departments.
Meanwhile, students alleged that submitting voucher before receiving the loans have left them demotivated for applying the loans. Besides, TK 8,000 is not enough to buy a well-featured device. JnU Register Eng. Wahiduzzaman said the notice issued in this regard, created some misunderstandings among students primarily. Students would get the loans first and then they have to submit voucher to their department chairmen.
However, upon opening of the university students have to repay the loans in four installments or at a time, during their studentship. Transcript and certificate would not be issued if anyone fail to repay the amount fully.
