IU appoints more teachers, staff than advertised for

Allegations of irregularities have been made by different quarters regarding appointment of 40 people including 12 teachers at the Islamic University in Kushtia.

Most of the appointees are men of ruling BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, some having records of being involved in crimes including murder, sources in the university said over telephone yesterday.

They said the university authorities have appointed 12 teachers, 20 officials and eight third and fourth-class employees in different departments against only 17 posts advertised for. They all joined on April 1.

The 20 officials were appointed against only nine vacant posts, while a good number of employees were waiting for promotion to these posts, the sources claimed. As per rule and practice, these nine posts should have been filled up from among eligible aspirants, they said.

The authorities had advertised for four lecturers to fill up four vacant posts in Applied Food and Nutrition Department, where four lecturers were already serving on ad-hoc basis. The authorities made services of the existing four (those working on ad-hoc basis) permanent and appointed four more lecturers.

On the other hand, eight third and fourth class employees have been appointed against only two posts advertised for.

According to the sources, the persons appointed in different posts were either leaders or activists of BNP or Jamaat.

Abdul Muyeed Babul, president of Kushtia district Jatyiatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), accused in several cases, has been appointed Section Officer.

The other appointees include Samim Akter, joint secretary of Islamic University (IU) JCD, who is accused in several cases; Hafizur Rahman, former general secretary of IU JCD, also accused in several cases; Golam Mahafuz, organising secretary of IU JCD; Afroz Ara, sister of JCD IU unit secretary Humayun Kabir Firoj; Waliur Rahman, former president IU JCD; Golam Mawla, former vice-president of IU JCD; and JCD leaders Mir Sirajul Islam; Zahir Uddin; Sahidul Islam; Risanuzzamn and Rawsanuzzaman. All of them have been appointed to posts of Section Officer.

Four other JCD leaders-- Ashrafuzzaman, Zakia Akter, Khursida Jahan and Abdul Kaderhave been appointed doctors at the JU Medical Centre.

Abu Zafar Adam, Jahangir Alam and Moazzem Hossain, all activists of Jamaat's student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), have been appointed to the post of Section Officer, the sources said. Adam was suspended twice as he faced charges of being involved in murder and assaulting teachers.

Besides, eight of the recruited teachers were activists of ruling BNP or Jamaat, the sources claimed.

Different organisations including the Alliance of Progressive Teachers criticised such recruitment.

Prof M Alauddin, president of IU Bangabandhu Parishad said such politically motivated appointments will only vitiate the academic atmosphere on the campus.

"When the university is facing a huge budget deficit, such appointments will put an extra burden", Prof Alauddin said.

Other sources said the IU has a budget deficit of about Tk 10 crore.

IU Vice Chancellor M rafiqul Islam could not be contacted as he is out of the country since April 1.

When asked, Registrar Dr. Moslem declined to comment, saying, "The VC knows everything".

Sources said there is a board for recruitment. Once approved by it, names are sent to the Syndicate for final approval. But the two bodies rarely challenge the VC, they claimed.