The Directorate of Education Audit has given a total of 13 audit objections against Jagannath University (JnU). From those objections, there are seven common objections and six preliminary objections.
Against a total of 13 objections, irregularities of Tk 13 crore 25 lakh 16 thousand have been shown, according to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) latest annual report-2022. The annual report, in the case of preliminary objections, irregularities of Tk nine crore 16 lahks 25 thousands and in the case of common objections, Tk four crore eight lakh 91 thousands, have been shown.
The latest annual report of UGC has been prepared based on the data of 2022. At that time there were 53 public universities in the country. Out of this, 42 public universities
have had irregularities of Tk 1,276 crore 25 lakh 22 thousand in different financial years, according to the report.
Analyzing the data of the report, the Directorate of Education Audit found the most financial irregularities in these five universities : National University, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Pabna University of Science and Technology. Irregularities of around Tk 650 crore have occurred in these five universities.
It is mentioned in the report that, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, the written comments on BSRs received from various universities by the Audit Branch of Finance and Accounts Department of Bangladesh University Grants Commission have been included from the report sent to the Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Education Audit and the University. It is to be noted that the audit objection shown to JnU is based on the data of 2020-2021.
Finance Director of JnU Dr. Md. Mohsin Reza said regarding the audit objection, “I am newly appointed. This report is prepared based on the year 2020-2021. We are trying to find out about the audit objections. We will work on the issues raised by UGC.”
On financial irregularities, JnU Treasurer Professor Dr Humayun Kabir Chowdhury has given an explanation where he said that the budget given for the university has a designated sector for spending but also to do other tasks the university uses a part of the funds.
“UGC says to use the portion of the money they give in their market sectors. If it is used in other sectors, the UGC objects. Here, it is not like a fault. The UGC has objected to such coordination,” he said.
JnU Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Sadeka Halim said, “We have two issues here, the money that comes to be used in the designated sector, we coordinate some parts between the internal sectors. Now while making these adjustments, the UGC audit objected.”
“And most of our employees here work on a daily basis, now no part of the budget can be kept for these employees and they are not affiliated with UGC. They have to be paid. I am trying to know in which sector UGC has objected,” she added.
Though the UGC has not pointed out any sector, the VC ensured that she will look into any financial irregularity outside of those.
