An investigation by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has revealed the irregularities and nepotism of Professor Shahidur Rahman Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna Agricultural University, a new higher education institution. It is seen that the Vice-Chancellor has appointed his own son, daughter, brother-in-law and nephew in the university. He also tried to appoint his wife as a professor. However, it gets stuck before the process is over.
In all, the Vice-Chancellor has appointed nine of his family members and relatives to the university. The UGC's investigation has also uncovered evidence of irregularities in teacher recruitment without kinship.
Five members of the university's policy-making forum syndicate wrote a letter to the education ministry in 2020 alleging irregularities against the vice-chancellor. The UGC then formed an inquiry committee under the direction of the ministry. The other members of the committee headed by UGC member Professor Biswajit Chand are Professor Afroza Parveen of Khulna University and UGC Senior Assistant Director Golam Dastagir (Member Secretary). More than a year after its formation, the inquiry committee submitted its report on January 23.
The Vice-Chancellor Shahidur Rahman Khan could not be reached for comment on the irregularities and nepotism mentioned in the report. However, the Vice-Chancellor has given an explanation in the inquiry committee. According to the report, he argued for the appointment of the university in case of academic and administrative emergency. However, when asked about the appointment of family members and close relatives, he told the committee, "It is not a very good job. I have done this wrong. '
Recruitment of relatives
In 2015, the Khulna Agricultural University Act was passed in the Parliament. The activities of the university started in September 2016 with the appointment of Professor Shahidur Rahman Khan as the Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Now there are more than two hundred students. According to the investigation report, the university currently has 334 teachers, 30 officers (permanent and temporary) and 231 employees (permanent and temporary). The university employs 20 officers and 48 staff on a temporary basis.
According to the investigation, the vice-chancellor has appointed his son Shafiur Rahman Khan and brother-in-law Jasim Uddin as branch officers. Four persons have been appointed, who are nephews of the Vice-Chancellor. They are Murad Billah as Accounting Officer, Sultan Mahmud as Administrative Officer, Imran Hossain as Lab Technician and Mizanur Rahman as Office Assistant cum Computer Operator. Shalika's son Saifullah Haque was appointed as Assistant Engineer (Electrical). Nizamuddin, who was appointed as the data entry operator, is a relative of the Vice-Chancellor. All of them were appointed on temporary basis.
However, in the past it has been seen that in different universities, especially in the new ones, appointments are made on temporary basis first. Then they are made permanent in various ways.
Error in the recruitment process for the girl
Israt Khan, the daughter of the university's vice-chancellor, has been appointed as a teacher in the computer science and engineering department, according to the investigation report.
It is said that the daughter of the Vice-Chancellor applied for the post of lecturer on 13 April 2020. Thirty candidates had applied for the post, of which the Vice-Chancellor's daughter was lagging behind in graduation. His CGPA is 3.30.
In a written statement on why a candidate with low CGPA was selected, Ujjwal Kumarnath, a member of the selection board, told the inquiry committee that before recommending a candidate for appointment as a teacher, his accent, presentation style and presentation were presented to the board. Recommended by analyzing the short speeches given in front of the teachers, speaking skills in English etc.
However, the inquiry committee said that no evidence was presented to the committee to verify the teaching ability of the candidates. In addition, two teachers are taken as invited members in the selection board, which has no chance.
The inquiry committee said that nepotism and flaws were observed in the process of appointing the vice-chancellor's daughter.
Not only the daughter, the Vice-Chancellor also tried to appoint his wife directly as a professor in the university. Vice Chancellor's wife Ferdousi Begum is Upazila Livestock Officer. He applied for the post of Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Khulna Agricultural University on 13 April 2020. However, the Ministry of Education has suspended the recruitment process. The inquiry committee said the vice-chancellor's wife did not meet the conditions for appointment.
Irregularities in teacher recruitment
The investigation report shows that the university has appointed an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Public Health. Ashiqul Alam's educational qualifications are less than those mentioned in the notification. He got second class in DVM (Graduate Honors) and first class in MSc.
The recruitment notification said that the candidate should get minimum 3 and a half (which is equivalent to first class) in CGPA-4. This condition can be relaxed if the candidate has a PhD degree. But Ashiqul Alam did not have a PhD degree. He was doing research under Vice Chancellor Shahidur Rahman Khan.
In the first light, Ashiqul said, he does not know what is in the report.
Recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry
The UGC's investigation report recommended seven points, including taking legal action as the appointment of the vice-chancellor's daughter as a teacher was flawed, canceling the appointment notification to make his wife a direct professor, and not appointing nepotism and regionalism in all appointments. The report recommends the appointment of a representative of the UGC as an observer in each selection board for the recruitment of teachers, officers and staff of the university to ensure transparency and accountability.
When asked, the former chairman of UGC, Professor Nazrul Islam told Prothom Alo, "The incident I heard from you is unbelievable, unusual. I do not want to comment on this.
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