BAU Correspondent

Nine complaints have been made against the teachers engaged in the administration including the Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU).

The allegations include irregularities in recruitment and education, use of two residences by the Vice-Chancellor, failure to implement the DPP.

A portion of the Gonotantrik Shikkhok Forum of the University raised these allegations through a press conference.

The press conference was organized on Monday noon in the conference room of the University's Teachers' Complex.

The press conference was attended by the President of the Gonotantrik Shikkhok Forum. Prof. Dr. M.A.M Yahia Khandoker, General Secretary Prof. Dr. Purba Islam, convener of the advisory council, professor Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman and other leaders and members of the organization.

In a written statement of the press conference, Purba Islam said that for the past 3 years in BAU, a few people chosen by the Vice-Chancellor have occupied important administrative positions. The cherished tradition of the university is being destroyed day by day as the administration is run by those few infiltrators, dishonest and unethical persons.

Also, the failure of the University's Academic Council has led to long session jams. Semester final exams of students have been postponed time and again on various pretexts without taking proper steps to compensate for the losses caused by Corona. As a result, students have been stuck in a long session which has never happened before in the university.

On the other hand, due to administrative laxity, 70 PhD students of the university had to sit for almost one and a half years to get their degrees even after completing all the processes.

He also said that there have been allegations of extreme anarchy in the appointment of university teachers this year. Transfer of teachers without the permission of the Head of the Department, appointment of the same person to more than one institution, even appointment made despite the objection of the selection committee.

At the press conference, Dr. Yahia said that BAU has been using the former residence in addition to the allotted residence of the Vice-chancellor since he was appointed.

But only during the appointment of Vice-Chancellor where the allotted house is to be used as stated in the appointment letter. There he has been using two nests simultaneously which is out of order. Also, the Vice-Chancellor is often absent from the campus on the pretext of various paper work. The absence of the Vice-Chancellor plunged the university into darkness.

He also said that an allocation of Tk 659 crore was given in 2018 from the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for further development of the university. However, due to the failure of the Vice-Chancellor, there was no visible development during the 3-year period of the project. Only 7 percent of the total amount has been completed.

Due to this lengthy process of work, the remaining amount has gone back for re-proposal.

At the press conference, Professor Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman said that the Vice-Chancellor and his close administration officials are responsible for the lack of justice in several incidents including the harassment of university teachers, the creation of division in the pro-Awami teachers' organization, the irregularity of the housing allocation committee and nepotism.

Regarding the use of the two residences, the Vice-chancellor said that an inquiry committee had verified through engineers that the Vice-chancellor's residence was dangerous. I and my family live in an old house. Neither I nor my family live in that house. Will be renovated soon.

Regarding DPP, he said that the money for further development projects has not been returned. Regarding absence from the campus, he said, I never go outside the campus except for meetings.

He said about the irregularities in allotment of houses, they have a separate committee and they will look into the issues.

He said about the lack of justice, there are separate committees for all these issues. He also assured that the attack on journalists will be prosecuted.

Regarding the division of teachers, he said, I sat and discussed with both sides 5 times. But there was no compromise. Their party has split itself in the leadership conflict.

Regarding the recruitment irregularities, the Vice chancellor said that the recruitment and transfer were done according to the rules. None of my relatives got placement in university.