Once the teachers go abroad for conferences and seminars the country is represented in many ways. Scholars of other countries are able to know what academic developments are taking place in our country. Now for the mistakes of a few if the delegated power from the VCs is taken (or already taken ?) away many will lose interest in attending international conferences. Bureaucracy will take away much valuable time from the teachers. They will have to come to Dhaka to pursue their matters. I think this does not ensure accountability, rather it might invite corruption. Already, there is a provision that if one goes abroad for more than three months under any award he will have to go through the Ministry of Education. Now if this rule is applied for short visits, things will become worse.

If accountability is the main concern here I would like to mention here how teachers have to be accountable to the authorities after every seminar/conference. We have to submit our research papers to the authorities for scrutiny for any kind of financial benefits. There is a committee which evaluates the participants, even you have to submit supporting documents to justify your participation.

So, for a few defaulters and cheats the promising university teachers should not suffer. This will bring another disaster for the scholars who pursue higher studies. The defaulters are few in number and they can easily be brought to justice. The authorities will have to look whether justice is mixed up with politics.

Again, I say the conference participants are the torchbearers of the country. These torches should not be put off by the ill advice from certain high ups.