Steps against JU VC if the allegations found true
Jahangirnagar University Vice-chancellor Prof Farzana Islam will face action if the allegation of giving money to Chhatra League leaders is found to be true, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.
“If she [VC] is involved in any unfair activities or if any link with the misdeed is proved, we will take measures,” Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, told a press conference at his ministry office.
In reply to a query, he said, “On which ground, will the VC have to resign? Is it for moral degradation? If it is proved, then steps must be taken against her. She is not above the law.”
Asked about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s demand of the VC’s resignation, Quader said Fakhrul was demanding resignation of everyone, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Speaking about the JU issue at a programme, former Dhaka University VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said the incident of giving money to student leaders from development projects was taking place at other educational institutions too.
“It is unimaginable that student leaders demand shares from development projects [of JU]. It is also happening at other educational institutions. Maybe these are not being published in the media,” he told a discussion organised to mark the National Education Day at the Jatiya Press Club.
He alleged that university teachers were also involved in such extortion and demanded investigations into such allegations.
In another development, Muktijuddho Moncho, a platform comprising descendants of freedom fighters, yesterday burnt an effigy of the JU VC on the DU campus, demanding her removal.
At a rally at the base of DU’s Raju Memorial Sculpture, it issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the VC to resign for her alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities in development projects at the JU.
“The corrupt Jahangirnagar University VC has to be removed within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will lay siege to her office and force her to resign,” said Prof AKM Jamal Uddin, convener of the platform.
He also alleged that the VC was responsible for the corruption and former central BCL president and general secretary were made “scapegoats”.
Al Mamun, president of Muktijuddho Moncho’s DU unit, said, “The Jahangirnagar University VC and her family have formed a syndicate, which is involved in corruption, on the campus. She has lost her moral right to hold the post. We demand her immediate removal.”
The JU VC and two of her family members appear to be in a fix with a JU BCL faction publicly claiming it had received Tk 25 lakh as per a settlement reached at an August 9 meeting at the VC’s residence.
An audio leak that went viral following the ouster of central BCL president and secretary also indicates that an exchange of money involving the VC’s family and JU BCL top brass took place.
Talking to The Daily Star on Monday, the faction leaders said the JU BCL was given “Eid Salami” after the meeting.
Saddam Hossain, joint secretary of JU BCL, and Niamul Hassan Taj, a vice-president, who lead the faction, also talked to other media outlets, making similar claims.
According to them, the meeting decided that they would get Tk 25 lakh while JU BCL President Jewel Rana and General Secretary SM Abu Sufian Chanchal Tk 50 lakh and Tk 25 lakh respectively.
VC Farzana has denied the allegations.
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