Resignation of Buet VC, pro-VC demanded

Agitating Buet teachers yesterday demanded resignation of its vice-chancellor (VC) and pro-vice-chancellor within a week alleging manifold anomalies to uphold the institution's tradition of academic excellence, moral standing and non-partisan credibility.
They made the demand at a press conference organsied by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Teachers' Association on its premises.
They also demanded abolition of the position of pro vice-chancellor saying it has never been in existence since Buet's inception in 1962.
The association went on work abstention since April 7 for an indefinite period, an action unprecedented in the country's highest institution of engineering education, to press home their demands.
Prof Mujibur Rahman, president of the association, while presenting a pile of 16 specific alleged gross anomalies against the two top officials of the university, said that they expected good sense would prevail upon the "controversial officials" for the sake of long tradition and proud identity of Buet.
Buet is on the verge of destroying its hard-earned reputation due to some academic and administrative anomalies, he said.
Prof. SM Nazrul Islam, the VC, facilitated manipulation of examination result of a chosen student of the Water Resource department granting him an undue opportunity to drop a course that he enrolled himself for, in violation of rules, alleged Prof. Mujibur. The student concerned applied directly to the VC, who forwarded it to the registrar for action.
The VC, however, refused a female student of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) department a similar exemption upholding the rules, he said.
On the very day Prof Nazrul Islam took over the office in August 2010, he entrusted Kamal Ahammad, a deputy registrar, with the registrar's office.
The VC also hurriedly reconstituted administrative and recruitment committees opting for relatively junior members in disregard of the tradition of seniority and competence as a general principle, he said.
Buet syndicate, led by the VC, endorsed a retrospective promotion of Kamal to the post of deputy registrar in January last year with effect from March 2004 to facilitate his qualification for the post of registrar, said Prof. Mujibur.
Later in the face of teachers' movement, the authorities formed a committee that recommended nullification of all kinds of retrospective privileges on the ground of anomalies, he said.
But the syndicate finally endorsed the retrospective effect of promotion last month.
The government appointed Prof Md Habibur Rahman as the first-ever pro vice-chancellor of the university in 2009 superseding more than fifty senior teachers, said Prof Mujibur Rahman.
VC Prof Nazrul Islam said, "The points raised by the association have no merit. So, why should I resign?"
Regarding withdrawal of a course by a student, he said that it happened "incidentally" due to a mistake at computer section. It was later revoked.
Terming Kamal Ahammed a "deprived official," the VC said that he got retrospective promotion in line with other such 200 examples in the past, which is now irrevocable.
Whatever decision the syndicate has taken is as per the university ordinance, he said.
Prof Nazrul Islam was an executive president of Bangabandhu Prokoushali Parishad in 1996 while Kamal founded Buet unit of Bangabandhu Parishad and continued as its president until 2009. Kamal is also president of Buet officers' association.
Prof Md Zoynul Abedin, immediate past president of the association, said that they approached the offices of the chancellor (the president) and the prime minister twice during past two years but received no response yet.
Prof Md Ashraful Islam, general secretary of the association, and some other professors were present at the press conference.