I am reluctant to write anything about public university Vice-Chancellors due to abhorrence for what they do. Their misdeeds surprise me as to how they even think of executing such despicable roles. Are they indeed teachers first of all? I will rather not make this writing much curious. Let me bring you some straight-jacket stories of those so called professors who degraded teachers' community at large.

Recently, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed ended his term in the midst of alleged irregularities and corruptions. He was compelled to leave office through a wave of sarcasm and insults. Prof. Ahmed has misused power as a Vice-Chancellor and is involved in various irregularities and corruption. Notably, his son Tanveer Ahmed and son's wife Farhana Khanam were appointed as doctors in the institution while he was in the chair. He has appointed seven more members of his family. In the last three years, more than two thousand professors, medical officers, accounting and administrative staffs, nurses, ward boys, nannies, drivers, sweepers and MLSS have been appointed mostly without prior advertisement, where large financial transactions were alleged to have taken place.

A week before BSMMU Vice Chancellor’s departure, Prof. Shirin Akhtar, a Chittagong University VC was removed from the post. On the last day at office, she appointed 37 people violating rules and regulations. In the last three months of her tenure, she appointed more than a hundred staffs as media report said. Moreover, there are various allegations including discourteous treatment of teachers, withholding of promotion of those who spoke out against her.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University, Prof. M Abdus Sobhan appointed on 'ad hoc' basis 141 people in various positions on his last working day. The University Grants Commission (UGC) recommended action against him after an inquiry but no measures could be noticed so far.

Like them, the list goes on and on. Prof. M. Rostam Ali of Pabna University of Science and Technology, Prof. Khandkar Nasiruddin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Prof. Shahidur Rahman Khan of Khulna Agricultural University, Prof. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of Begum Rokeya University and Prof. Farzana Islam of Jahangirnagar University were removed or resigned from the post for the same reasons.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has investigated allegation against Islamic University VC, Prof. Sheikh Abdus Salam about recruitment trade, irregularities, and discourteous treatment of teachers etc. According to UGC, the investigation underscores examining leaked audio-clips regarding recruitment trade. In the same institution, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also investigating allegations of misappropriation of Tk6 crore under mega project.

In the past 15 years, there was hardly any Vice-Chancellor against whom similar allegations were not made. How can we come out of the plague? As I know, only four autonomous universities in Bangladesh have specific policies for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. But the sad part is that even these universities don’t follow that policy accordingly. The rest 55 public universities don’t have any policy for appointment of Vice-Chancellors.

I firmly suggest that there should be a transparent policy for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. A university has to advertise in the newspaper at least three months before the vacancy and select the eligible candidates. The selected candidates will have to make a presentation where there will be people from the government, representatives of the teachers and students of the university. From here, three candidates should be selected and sent to the president office for next procedure. The entire process should be kept transparent.

I am now inclined to share some of my observations about corruption in the universities. In case of any irregularity, quick action is hardly taken against. I think this is one of the reasons why irregularities cannot be stopped. Often times, the ministry follows a slow-moving policy. As a result, attention or focus is diverted from these issues to others. So, corrupt people feel encouraged to continue to weave a chain of irregularities. They feel safe and encouraged because there are no punishments following investigations. Moreover, in appointing a Vice-Chancellor, political affiliation should not be the criterion for the job.

And, finally a few words about integrities and moralities. I do believe that the authorities need to appoint the people with proven personality in such respectful positions. Apart from this, efficiency, administrative ability should be highly considered in the appointment of vice-chancellor. If the people with morale are selected for the job, there might decline the scale of corruption.

Last but not least, the corruption charges against public university Vice- Chancellors are quite old indeed. Education sector stakeholders feel that qualified academics are not getting appointed as Vice-Chancellors due to various complications including non-transparent recruitment process, lack of judgment, and recruitment through political considerations and lobbying. As a result, irregularities and corruption in the universities are remarkably soaring.
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The writer is an Associate Professor and former Chairman of the Department of Folklore Studies, Islamic University, Kushtia. Email: [email protected]