Suranjith Deabnath
Pro-Awami League (AL) teachers of different public universities are now lobbying hard with new government high-ups to get appointment as vice chancellor (VC), pro-vice chancellor (pro-VC) and other top vital posts after the political changeover.
On Thursday, Mass Communication and Journalism Department Professor and Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) former president AAMS Arefin Siddique was appointed as VC of Dhaka University (DU) in the place of Prof SMA Faiz. The new VC Siddique is a prominent and popular teacher from pro-AL teachers’ group ‘Blue panel’ while outgoing VC Faiz was a member of pro-BNP ‘White panel’ of teachers.
As part of removing pro-BNP top officials from public universities, the new government will re-constitute the ‘Search Committee’ which was formed during army-backed caretaker government to make recommendations to the president for appointment of the public university’s VC, pro-VC and treasurer on the basis of teaching experience, seniority and quality, education ministry sources said.
Honest, progressive and well-accomplished academicians will be given priority for appointment various vital posts of the universities, including VCs, after evaluating their roles during the army-backed caretaker government, according to the source.
University Grant Commission (UGC) chairman Nazrul Islam Khan said education ministry usually deals with the appointment of VCs or other top official posts of the universities.
“The idea of ‘Search Committee’ for selecting honest and competent teachers as VCs is a good concept but its existence or its re-constitution will fully depend on the new government,” the UGC chairman said.
“Now we have to face different types of request as every day many pro-AL teachers come to the education ministry to meet its minister and other top officials,” said a top official of the ministry on the condition of anonymity.
VCs of three autonomous universities–Rajshahi University (RU), Chittagong University (CU), and Jahangirnagar University (JU) will be replaced very soon following the appointment of DU VC, sources said.
DU
The issue of changing VC and other top officials of DU has came to the fore as soon as its outgoing VC Prof SMA Faiz requested the education ministry on January 11 to relieve him of the post.
Following Faiz’s request, many pro-AL teachers of DU started lobbying with new government high-ups and finally ‘Blue panel’ teacher AAMS Arefin Siddique was appointed as the 27th VC of DU Thursday.
JU
Administrative activities of JU have been much hampered there being no VC for the last ten months due to a ban on recruitments by the education ministry following alleged corruption against former VC Prof Khandakar Mustahidur Rahman in the recruitment process.
Teachers and students of JU believe that this situation would be ended after appointment of new VC, JU sources said.
Prof Muhammad Muniruzzaman has been serving as acting VC of JU since March 24 last year. After form action of AL-led government, names especially of Prof Sharif Enamul Kabir and Prof Abdul Bayes have been heard to be appointed as new VC, education ministry and JU sources said.
RU
The lobbying for RU VC has emerged after the Education Ministry recently received a list of pro-AL teachers who had performed active roles during the caretaker government, sources said.
After the removal of former RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain, pro-VC Dr Mamnunul Keramat has been doing additional duties of acting VC since the middle of last year.
Among the pro-AL teachers who are now busy with lobbying with top government officials are former RU VC Prof Dr Saidur Rahman Khan, RU syndicate member and former Progressive Teachers’ Society (PTS) convener Prof Abdus Sobhan, PTS convener Prof Dr Mozaffar Hossain, former PTS convener Prof Muhammad Nurullah, RU senate member Prof Anando Kumar Saha, Prof Shah Nowaz Ali and Prof Sarwar Zahan Sajal.
CU
The CU VC Prof Badiul Alam who was appointed during BNP-Jamaat alliance government is ready for his farewell as its proctor Prof Jasim Uddin and associate proctor Prof Mahbubul Haq resigned following the campus violence on January 3.
On the other, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir are still maintaining their supremacy over the halls while Bangladesh Chhatra League activists are trying to take control over the dormitories.
In this situation, a group of pro-AL teachers are now very busy with lobbying to become new VC, campus sources said.
Other Universities:
Jagannath University (JNU) former treasurer Prof Dr Abu Hosen Siddique was appointed as its VC during the caretaker government following the recommendation of the ‘Search Committee’. VC of JNU might be changed within a few months, sources at education ministry said.
A new face may be seen as VC of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in place of present VC Prof Shahi Alam who was appointed during the caretaker government, according to the source.
Politically appointed Islamic University VC Prof Fayez Muhammad Sirajul Haq who is vice president of Zia Parishad might be removed from his post.
Besides, VCs of Khulna University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and top vital posts of National University and Open University will be replaced within a few months.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
