UGC probe into SUST irregularities begins
Records depositions of teachers, officials
Staff Correspondent, Sylhet
A high level team from University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday started probe into alleged irregularities in Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) during the past government.The 3-men probe body led by UGC member Prof Mohammad Mahbub Ullah reached Sylhet yesterday morning and began work. It includes UGC member Md. Sultan Hossain and Deputy Director Prof Dr. Mizanur Rahman. Registrar of the university Jamil Ahmed Chowdhuiry said, a good number of SUST teachers and officials have already listed their names to testify before the probe body. SUST Vice Chancellor Prof M Aminul Islam, Dean of School of Life Sciences Prof Habibul Ahsan and Controller of Examinations Saliqur Rahman Chowdhury met the probe body on their arrival on the campus, Jamil Ahmed said. Killing of SUST student Mosharraf Hossain Shamim, vandalism at the official residence of the VC on May 14 last year, alleged corruption by immediate past Vice Chancellor Mosleh Uddin Ahmed and irregularities during the last government will be probed by the UGC team, sources said. Teachers, officials and employees gave statements before the probe committee, which began at 11 am and continued when the report was filed at about 7 pm. Their depositions will continue till 10 pm, a member of the probe body said. When contacted, probe body chief Prof Mahbub Ullah declined to say anything. "We have just started our work. We will look into complaints so that a congenial academic atmosphere in real sense can be brought back to the campus", he said. "We will allow deposition till Sunday afternoon", he said. Earlier in September 2002, a probe committee led by UGC member Prof Dr. AKM Muhsin detected irregularities in purchase of Tk 2 crore books for the university library, certificate forgery and other acts of corruption. Prof Musleh Uddin Ahmed was appointed Pro VC of the university on February 14, 2002 and made VC after a few months. Before he resigned on May 14 last year in the face of students' protest following death of a student in police firing, The unrest on the campus ensued after a clash between students of the university and a nearby private medical college. There are allegations of corruption and illegal appointment by Prof Musleh Uddin Ahmed on political considerations. Sources in the probe team said most of the complainants spoke against the former vice-chancellor. Prof Musleh Uddin appointed 155 teachers, 51 officials and 134 employees during his 18-month tenure.
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