Perpetual studentship keeps geezers at helm

Imtiaj Ahmed, the new president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Rajshahi University unit, completed his university education three years back, and the unit's second man Kamrul Hasan, the new general secretary, did not graduate from the university at all.

They are part of a six-member executive committee of the unit, which was announced on July 24 by the BNP-backed student body's central leaders.

JCD insiders said five of the six new leaders completed their graduation two to three years before, and all six had been residing outside the campus since the end of the last BNP-led government's tenure in 2006.

Imtiaj admitted that he earned his post-graduate degree in finance and banking from RU in June 2011 but said he was now enrolled in a one-year French language course under the language department of the university.

The language department sources, however, said any graduate from any recognised university could enrol in the course anytime.

The new general secretary, Kamrul, lost his studentship from the Islamic history and culture department of RU in 2008 for not appearing at examinations, said the department sources. Later, he completed his graduation from a private university.

Kamrul told The Daily Star that he was now studying in the evening MBA programme under RU's marketing department.

Chairman of the department Prof Saiful Islam, however, said, "The students enrolled in the evening MBA programmes cannot use the identity of Rajshahi University."

Of the six, only Sultan Ahmed Rahi, the new joint general secretary, has studentship at RU. He is enrolled in the management studies department.

Senior vice president Ahsanuzzaman Alin, vice president Ismail Hossain, and organising secretary Raju Ahmed Mamun completed their studies two years ago, said JCD sources.

Asked about the anomalies, JCD central president Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan Jewel said they had selected the new leadership based on recommendations of local BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders.

JCD central office secretary Nazmul Hasan recognised the violation of the rules but said Kamrul was picked as general secretary because of his dedication.

He asserted that no non-student would be put on the new 81-member full-fledged committee of RU, which the six new leaders have been asked to form within one month.