Ex-VC Sobhan violated rules

The outgoing vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University has violated the constitution, university law, and a government embargo by appointing 137 teachers and staffers on the last day of his office, found a probe committee.

RU VC Prof M Abdus Sobhan was involved in a "punishable offence", said the probe committee members and education ministry officials.

The probe report that was submitted to the top officials of the Secondary and Higher Education Division yesterday also recommended imposing a ban on the overseas travel of Sobhan.

"We have submitted the probe report," probe committee chief and University Grants Commission Member Prof Muhammed Alamgir told The Daily Star yesterday. He refused to make any further comments.

This correspondent tried to reach Prof Sobhan yesterday afternoon, but he did not respond.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division, on May 6, formed a four-member probe committee to investigate whether Sobhan appointed university teachers and staffers.

On that day, Sobhan appointed nine teachers, 24 office assistants, 19 section officers, and 85 third- and fourth-class employees, on an ad-hoc basis.

The appointment ensued daylong chaos and clashes on the campus.

After news of the recruitments leaked around noon, a clash ensued between leaders and activists of RU Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) who went to the campus to receive appointment letters and a Rajshahi city unit BCL group, which opposed the recruitments.

In December 2020, acting on a report of the UGC probe on corruption allegations against Sobhan and others, the education ministry had issued an embargo on all kinds of recruitment at RU.

The education ministry and probe committee members said the probe committee found that Sobhan violated rules and regulations of RU, as well as the constitutions article 29(1) that says that there shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the Republic.

"This is a punishable offence, and steps should be taken against Sobhan." said the ministry official.

An education ministry official said, "The probe committee did not specify what kind of steps should be taken against Sobhan. For a smooth justice process, there should be a ban on the overseas travel of Sobhan."

A probe committee member said, "The probe committee found only nine persons curriculum vita although 137 appointments. This was an unprecedented incident."

In October last year, a UGC probe committee submitted its report to the education ministry and the Prime Minister's Office after finding evidence of corruption and irregularities by the then RU VC and pro-VC in appointing teachers at the university.

In the probe report, the commission recommended taking action against VC Prof M Abdus Sobhan, pro-VC Prof Choudhury M Zakaria, and others of the university over the matter.

It also recommended scrapping the appointment of 34 teachers, who were recruited "relaxing university rules".

The report said the vice-chancellor, in collusion with others, also relaxed the rules to appoint his daughter and son-in-law as two of these 34 teachers at the public university.

In December, the ministry halted all kinds of appointments at RU, asking Sobhan to explain in seven working days why the appointments of his daughter and son-in-law should not be cancelled.

The education ministry, in a separate order, asked the VC to take the necessary steps to remove Prof Abdul Bari from the post of the university registrar for not properly assisting a UGC committee to probe allegations of irregularities at RU.

In October last year, Sobhan held a press conference where he raised questions over the neutrality of the probe body and termed it "one-sided and biased".

Sobhan said all the allegations against him were "silly, false and fabricated".

He alleged that a section of people was trying to replace him and tarnish the image of the university and the government.

"In December, Bari resigned from his post. But since then, no visible punishment against the VC and the others has been seen," said a member of the UGC.

Against this backdrop, on May 6, Abdus Sobhan appointed 137 teachers and staffers on his last day in office.

Two days after, RU authorities suspended the joining of 137 teachers, officers, and employees, who were recruited by the outgoing VC, as the ministry formed a probe committee are investigating the recruitment process.