Thursday, July 25, 2013
Khairul Islam
University Grants Commission (UGC) is going to seek presidents’ intervention to take necessary measures against the private universities those aren’t complying with the regulator’s prescription.
High official at the commission said despite repeated warnings, number of private universities have been continuing their schooling business, defying the regulator’s rules and regulations.
UGC private university division Director Md Shamsul Alam said the authorities have found massive irregularities in administration of some private universities including certificate business.
The official said that these universities have been operating number of illegal branches across the country, even without taking necessary permission from the apex body.
He said that the university’s watchdog has prepared a hit-list of these unruly universities, especially those are grossly violating the instructions.
“The list included those universities have failed to go for permanent campus in the stipulated time-frame, ownership dispute and certificate business.
Association of Private University of Bangladesh Vice-Chairman Abul Kashem Haider strongly criticised the grants commission and the education ministry for their reluctance to stop certificate business.
“I think, officials from the regulator and the concern ministry are involved with the certificate business and they get fair share of the business,” the deputy said.
However, he backed those universities failed to ensure permanent campus by the stipulated timeframe set by the UGC saying that it isn’t important for the university operation.
“The authorities should extend the deadline for setting up permanent campus that needs a gigantic amount,” Mr Hider said and added that permanent campus isn’t essential for the university operation.
The UGC Chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury said that they already started dialogue with the related offices including education ministry regarding the strict measures against the varsity business.
“The action will be effective against the private universities are grossly violating the regulators’ suggestions including ensuring permanent campus and running unapproved branches” the professor said.
Confirming the president’s intervention, the regulator said that they will apply to the Honorable President Advocate Abdul Hamid, he also the chancellor of these private universities, to take the intervention formally by next week,” Prof Chowdhury said.
During the application of intervention to the country’s premier, the university’s watchdog also will submit a proposal to the president regarding possible action against the reckless irregularities that have been observed, he said.
The professor said that these illegal universities may face permanent closure or the chancellor may form a separate administrative body for the guilty universities employing a vice chancellor until or unless creating a baseline for these failure universities.
The universities may face stern action— Darul Ihsan University, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Prime University, International Islamic University, , Asian University, Dhaka International University, Northern University and IBAIS University.
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