Storm over RU teachers' recruitment

Executive members of the Rajshahi University Teachers' Association (RUTA) came up with a series of allegations against the university administration yesterday.

At a press conference on the Rajshahi University (RU) campus, the executive members also demanded immediate reconsideration of the recent teacher recruitment and an impartial probe into the 'cassette scandal'.

RUTA General Secretary Dr M Mahbubur Rahman alleged that the RU administration guided by an influential group appointed teachers of particular political ideals.

RUTA Vice-President Muha-mmad Nurullah and members Golam Sabbir Sattar, Dr Abu Taher Mollik, Dr Belayet Hossain Hawladar, Fazlul Karim, Anisur Rahman, Rezaul Hassan Karim and Dr PM Shafiqul Islam attended the press conference.

Referring to the report on cassette scandal published in different newspapers, the RUTA leaders alleged that the appointment of some teachers was not carried out on merits.

Six teachers were appointed to the Department of Computer Science, according to a decision taken at a syndicate meeting on December 29.

But Quazi Zahedur Rahman, one of the candidates, who scored highest among 15, was not recruited as the administration identified him as an Awami League supporter and member of the Rabindra group, as revealed by an audiocassette.

The cassette obtained by the local press recorded snatches of a telephonic conversation between Proctor Nurul Absar and Khwaja Zakaria Chisti, chairman of the computer science department.

The cassette also revealed why Zahedur Rahman, a first class first achiever in Honours and Master's, was not appointed.

The proctor told Chisti over phone that "he (Zahedur) is an Awami Leaguer, so he would not be recruited."

The RUTA leaders have claimed that one of the teachers involved in the cassette scandal is a member of the teacher recruitment board.

They alleged that the RU administration engaged in appointing teachers, violating regular norms and recommendations of the RU planning committee.

Replying to a question, the leaders said the November 27 syndicate meeting approved appointments of at least 32 teachers to eight departments although the planning committee recommended 22 posts.

The administration also recruited three new teachers for permanent posts in the applied chemistry department although three lecturers were in wait for promotion to assistant professor on a permanent basis upon completion of their three-year service, the press conference was told.

Dr Sharmin Alam, daughter of Professor Shamsul Alam Birprotik, was not recruited either despite her right to the 30 per cent allocation for the freedom fighters' sons and daughters.

Meanwhile, RU Students Advisor Professor M Rafiqul Islam, Syndicate Member Professor Azhar Ali and pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Professor M Nazrul Islam in a joint statement denied involvement in the press conference.

The statement circulated among journalists minutes before the press conference termed yesterday's press conference illegal.

Earlier on Sunday night, as many as 50 BNP-Jamaat-aligned teachers, including the RU proctor, threatened the RUTA leaders with dire consequences if they held any press conference.