18 public universities without VCs

Administrative activities may come to a standstill

Demand to appoint neutral teachers

Academic, administrative skills are main requirements

After the fall of the Awami League government, the vice-chancellors of 18 public universities resigned. In many universities, vice-chancellors, treasurers, registrars and proctors also quit their posts, along with vice-chancellors. If the top positions are not appointed immediately, the administrative activities of the universities may come to a standstill. However, the relevant department of the Ministry of Education has not received any instructions in this regard. On the other hand, the students demanded that qualified and impartial teachers be appointed to these posts.

If there is no vice-chancellor of the university, there will be administrative complications. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country after the fall of the government on August 5. Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Farhad Hossain resigned. Later Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chattogram University, Jagannath University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Islamic University, Shahjalal Science and Technology University, National University, Haji Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET),  Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET), Cumilla University, Begum Rokeya University, Sheikh Hasina University, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University ,all theseVC resigned at different times. According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) list, there are currently 55 public universities.

Among them, four autonomous universities (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar and Chattogram universities) have specific rules for appointment of vice-chancellors.

Where the university senate representatives finalize the names of three members through election. From that list, the chancellor and president of the university appointed one as the vice-chancellor. However, in special circumstances, the Vice-Chancellor may be appointed in addition to the Senate as per the University Ordinance (Section 11-2).

In case of other public universities, the names of three persons were sent to the Prime Minister's Office from the Ministry of Education. Appointments are made through the President after approval from there. Several officials of the university said that all work has stopped due to the absence of a vice-chancellor in the university. Because the university system is such that the approval of the Vice-Chancellor is required at the beginning of the work and also at the end. As a result, no files are allowed now.

Administrative activities will come to a complete standstill if there is no speedy appointment. On the other hand, the demand of the students to appoint neutral teachers as vice-chancellors is getting stronger. They are in favor of appointing those who have more academic and administrative qualifications and skills rather than appointing them on political considerations. For a few days, there has been a demand on the social media to make various teachers of Dhaka University vice-chancellors citing their academic qualifications.

Pro-Awami teachers of the university have no role in this matter. The party has already been informed about this by the BNP-Jamaat Panthi Sada Party.  A source said that in the current administration, those who are more party neutral, who have no reports against them, are being appointed. Such may happen in the case of Dhaka University.

Former convenor of Dhaka University's Sada Dal and President of University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam said, 'We want to support the current government. Since they have taken responsibility for state repairs. A long mess has also been created in the universities. Now I think good teachers should be given the responsibility to eliminate that.

ZH