Pvt universities asked to move within a year
Private universities that have failed to move to their own permanent campuses have been given an extended ultimatum of one year.
No universities will be allowed to open new courses, programmes, institutes or faculties or extend their campuses until they move to their comprehensive campuses.
The decision came at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) at the education ministry with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid in the chair yesterday.
The meeting was convened to take a decision about the private universities that have failed to relocate as per the Private University Act, 2010.
Under the Act, a university must own a permanent campus five years into its launch. Forty-three out of 54 private universities have failed to comply with this rule.
Earlier in December 2010, the government issued an ultimatum to the defaulter private universities that they would not be allowed to enrol new students from October 2011.
However, the government did not enforce the decision even after three months of the deadline expiring. The ministry finally held a meeting yesterday to decide the next course of action.
An overview presented at yesterday's meeting stated that only 11 universities had so far set up their own campuses on the required space of land.
The universities are North South University; University of Science and Technology, Chittagong; International Islamic University, Chittagong; Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology; International University of Business Agriculture & Technology; BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong; Bangladesh University of Business & Technology (BUBT); Independent University, Bangladesh; Stamford University, Bangladesh; Premier University; and City University.
Only seven universities are constructing their own respective campuses on the required land and the government has asked these universities to relocate within a year through notifying the UGC.
Seven other universities have obtained approval for their university designs but are yet to begin construction. The ministry asked them to start construction within six months and begin relocation within one year by informing the ministry and the UGC.
Eighteen universities got the required land but could not get their designs approved. These universities have been asked to start construction within six months and start shifting within one year.
The universities which have got land less than the required degree will be asked to get the required land within six months and start shifting within a year.
If any of these universities fail, the government will take action as per the Act.
The ministry also asked IBAIS University, Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology, and Dhaka International University to resolve their problems over ownership issues within three months and inform the authorities concerned.
It also asked Northern University Bangladesh, UITS, and other universities, which have legal issues with either the government or the UGC, to dispose of the cases through the court immediately.
Contacted, the education minister said it was a good sign that several universities had acted accordingly after the government issued the ultimatum.
"We have taken steps so that the universities can fulfil the criteria and ensure standard education," he told The Daily Star.
UGC Chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury and Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury were present at the meeting.
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