M.Phil. students lose session to DU laxity

Sixty students who qualified for admission to M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) course in the current academic session (2001-2002) at Dhaka University have missed the session due to negligence of their respective departments.

Campus sources said 25 students of sociology, 12 of law and 10 of management could not get admission as the departments concerned did not send necessary papers to the registrar's office in time.

Meanwhile, four students of Arabic, three of political science, two of public administration, two of applied chemistry and chemical technology, one of modern languages and one of economics could not also get admission as the departments delayed sending their papers to the registrar's office.

Thirty-five students of Bangla also lost one academic year due to negligence of the department last year and the students got admission this year.

"The time limit for submission of papers was extended more than once and those were to be placed before the Board of Advanced Studies on October 27 and Academic Council on October 30 last year. But the departments concerned did not respond," said a top DU official, seeking anonymity.

One of the frustrated admission seekers of sociology department said she could not understand how the department's chairman could sit on such a vital issue. "Who will pay for the year that we have lost for their carelessness?"

Chairman of the sociology department Prof. Ishrat Shamim refuted the allegation and said she has no responsibility as regards admission to M.Phil course. " The chairman of the four-member M. Phil committee of the department looks after the admission process."

But Chairman of the M.Phil committee Prof. Quamrul Ahsan said, "My responsibility is to conduct the written test and viva voce for M.Phil admission. It is not my job to send papers to the registrar's office, it is the responsibility of the chairman of a department."

Dr Tashlima Mansur, dean of the law faculty and chairperson of the M.Phil committee of the faculty, refuted the allegation of negligence on her part and said the chairman of the department (law faculty has only one department) did not submit necessary papers in time.

Prof. Mizanur Rahman, ex-chairman of law department, admitted that the department failed to send the papers to the registrar's office for 'some reasons'.

According to the DU M.Phil admission procedure, the department chairman has to submit admission form and all other necessary documents to the registrar's office through the respective dean's office.

Some teachers said the 25 students of sociology and 12 students of law could not get admission due to political and personal conflict between the department chairmen and M.Phil committee chairman.

DU Vice-chancellor SMA Faiz told The Daily Star that the university authorities would investigate the incident.

A notification for admission to M.Phil course in the next academic session would be given by the first week of July, a DU official said.