University and politics

I read with interest the letter captioned, “University and Politics” by Professor Zahidul Haque published recently in your “Letters to the Editor” page. Before partition of India, Dhaka University did mean, “community of teachers and scholars”. We had celebrities like the outstanding physicist, Prof. SN Bose; a world class historian, Prof. RC Majumdar; an FRS Botany Professor P. Maheshwari, a Literary Stalwart, Dr. Shahidullah; an erudite Statistician, Professor QM Hossain and so on.
When I joined DU in 1948, the educational and research atmosphere were charged with dedication, albeit on a somewhat abated scale compared to pre-partition days. The lights in Curzon Hall campus were not turned off till late at night. Young scientists worked on Sundays. It was not until the big communal riot in 1949, did many dedicated teachers leave for India creating a void in the academic standard which is yet to return to its former height. Nowadays after 2:00 in the afternoon, hardly any teacher is seen in a science department.
The greatest harm was done by General Azam Khan, Governor of erstwhile East Pakistan. The General would periodically invite student leaders to the Government House to dinner. While leaving the hall, student leaders would come to the provost, not to take his permission but to sarcastically say, “Sir, we are going to the Government House to a dinner engagement,” conveying that they were more important to the government than the provost.
Political consideration took precedence over academic excellence including the appointment of vice chancellors. However, some vice chancellors such as the Late Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury were above corruption. To him what mattered was academic excellence and the level of scholastic attainments of the candidates.
Gradually, the university authorities, as we all know, had to yield to political pressure. Higher teaching posts in a large number such as those of professors and associate professors were created in all universities to satisfy the demands of politically minded senior teachers to whom the position mattered much more than academic excellence. The rules were drastically changed. Even non-Ph.D. candidates and those without publications in peer-reviewed journals outside BD were considered eligible for full professorship. In some universities, teachers not fulfilling the minimum criteria, got promotion using their political influence.
The interest of the party, rather than that of the institute, determined the appointment of the head of an institute in a university. As a result, a less qualified individual got the top post in preference to a more deserving candidate. It is high time that we change our mindset.
The teaching community appeals to the caretaker government to take adequate measures to revive the glorious tradition of Dhaka University and establish an equally sound academic atmosphere in all other universities: public and private. It is imperative to revise the university ordinances. We desperately need good science laboratories, good libraries, Internet connectivity, and good and dedicated teachers. If adequate measures are not taken in the foreseeable future, the same or even worse type of academic corruption will continue to debilitate the country.