<i>Cheating in name of education</i>

So-called Satkhira campus of 'Atish Dipankar University' is housed at three small rented rooms at Palashpole in the town. Photo: STAR

A group of people are conducting academic activities in the name Satkhira campus of Atish Dipankar University at Palashpole in the town, although they have not taken any permission from the University Grants Commission for the purpose.
Last year, the group hung a signboard at the same building, claiming it to be a campus of 'America Bangladesh University'.
As their dubious act became known, they pulled down the signboard.
The group that had rented three small rooms of a building at Palashpole (in front of Satkhira Sadar Hospital) in the town last year, later declared the 'centre' as the Satkhira campus of Atish Dipankar University.
Later they distributed leaflets in the area in the name of Atish Dipankar University, falsely mentioning that Prof Anowara Begum, wife of Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, was Vice Chancellor of the university.
After enrolling students under BA (Hons) in English, BBA (Hons), MBA, LLB, BEd and MEd courses, they have continued conducting classes there for about a year.
In the big signboard containing Atish Dipankar University in large letters, the term 'information centre' is also mentioned but the words are too small to be noticed easily.
Abdur Rashid, a lecturer of Kalaroa Sonar Bangla Degree College, is running the so-called campus as 'director' of the university. Several other non-government college teachers are also involved with it, sources said.
The group is realising Tk 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh from each student in the name of fees for admission and examinations while the 'trapped' students are facing an uncertain future about their education.
Classes at the so-called university are taken mostly by fresh masters from universities, sources said.
When contacted, Abdur Rashid, 'director' of the university, denied the allegations and said it is an information centre of the university.
Asked about admitting students and taking classes and examination, he said they were providing coaching to the students on the campus and the students who came here will be admitted into the Dhanmondi Branch of Atish Dipankar University in Dhaka.
He said the campus started at the fag end of 2007 and at present there are 25 students under BBA and MBA courses, 25 under LLB and five under English (Honours) course.
Several students who got themselves admitted into the campus, on the other hand, said the authorities did not inform them that the campus is the information centre of Atish Dipankar University.
They were admitted and attending classes and examinations regularly at the campus, they said in presence of the director.
“During admission we had to pay Tk 15,000 each to the university authorities. The teachers have been taking our classes and we appear at the examinations on the campus,” said Shahana Sultana and Saifuzzaha Begum, students of LLB (Hons) course under the so-called university.
Selina Parvin and Kabirul Islam of BBA course, Uttam Kumar Mondal of LLB course and several other students of the 'university' echoed the same view as they were standing beside 'director' Abdur Rashid.
When contacted, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said they did not give any permission to open a campus of the said university at Satkhira.
“The illegal practice of cheating students in the name of university campuses has continued despite our warning to the private universities,” he said.