Protest Against JU VC: Book of graft unveiled
The protesting teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University yesterday unveiled a book detailing the allegations of corruption against the vice-chancellor.
The platform, Jahangirnagar against Graft, has been protesting since August 23 against unplanned development on the campus and corruption. It demands resignation of VC Prof Farzana Islam over graft allegation.
At a press briefing, the demonstrators launched the 224-page book, titled “unplanned development and VC’s corruption,” at New Arts and Humanities building.
Prof Farzana, who has been VC since 2014, denies any wrongdoing.
The book contains issues, including background of the protest, crisis of unplanned development, VC’s graft allegation, details of attack on protesting teachers and students, demonstrators’ manifesto, and newspaper reports and cartoons.
The protesters allege irregularities in the tender process, including manual tender instead of e-tendering and tender grabbing, and defying of the Public Procurement Rules-2008 against the VC as she included her personal secretary in the inspection committee of JU development project involving Tk 1,445 crore.
The university authorities have recently dropped the name of VC’s PS from the committee.
The demonstrators added that government procedures were not followed in the appointment of the project director.
They also alleged that the development project proposal for constructing six buildings had been ignored. Possibly around Tk 29 crore was misappropriated through this violation.
The book also mentions that the VC violated the rules to give her husband PhD degree. “She was the chair of the committee which gave the degree and scholarship to her husband.”
The protesters alleged that there had been irregularities while opening the Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information’s System.
They also announced a seven-point demand, including publishing all expenditures of development projects and running the university administration, and ensuring participation of all stakeholders in university’s development work.
At the press briefing, speakers urged President Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, to form a committee immediately to look into the allegations.
Prof Rayhan Rhyne, convener of the platform, said although the VC’s involvement in corruption had been detailed by the media in recent weeks, the government had not paid any heed.
“Nobody can remain in the VC post after their involvement in such crimes,” he added.
“We will submit copies of this book to the education ministry and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh.”
The protesters announced a fresh protest programme in the evening. A photo exhibition of the November 5 attack on the demonstrators will be held today at Murad Chattar adjacent to the new arts building.
A procession will be brought out tomorrow, protesting the irregularities and corruption in the ongoing construction of three dormitories for female students.
Among others, Prof Abdul Jabber Hawlader, Prof Jamal Uddin, Prof Khabir Uddin, Prof Mirza Taslima Sultana, and Prof Shamima Sultana were present at the briefing.
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