UGC forms body to probe alleged irregularities by VC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday formed a probe committee to investigate the alleged irregularities regarding appointment of a large number of staff at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) during the tenure of immediate past vice chancellor Prof Dr Syed Shakhawat Hossain.
UGC member Prof Mohabbat Khan is the head of the three-member probe committee while two other members are Prof Abul Hashem and Ferdous Zaman Tuhin.
"We will visit the university very soon to investigate the matter," said Prof Mohabbat Khan.
Prof Shakhawat Hossain joined as vice chancellor of PSTU on December 21 in 2008 and December 20 this year was his last working day there. But he left the campus at about 6:00pm the previous day.
During the last three working days from December 17 to 19, he gave appointment to 119 officials and employees against 14 posts mentioned in the newspaper advertisement published for the purpose, said sources at PSTU.
The 14 posts include one each of deputy registrar, assistant registrar, assistant librarian, accountant, assistant engineer (Electrical), deputy assistant engineer (Civil), senior assistant for the Office of the Registrar, senior assistant for Budget Section, and six section officers.
But the PSTU authorities gave appointment to 33 people to these posts, sources said.
Eighty-six other people including seasonal, part time and master roll employees were also appointed during December 17-19 although there are no posts for them, they said.
Besides, a good number of teachers, officials and employees were appointed at PSTU allegedly through dubious means during the last four years.
In a meeting arranged by PSTU authorities at the university auditorium on December 18, Nikhil Chatterjee, Patuakhali correspondent of the daily Sangbad, came under attack allegedly by a group of illegal appointees when he asked a question regarding the 'mass appointment'.
The group also attacked two others journalists when they tried to save Nikhil.
A newspaper published a detailed report on the alleged irregularities recently.