Teachers continue sit-in for fourth day demanding removal of Sylhet Agricultural University VC

A section of teachers under the banner of “White Panel” at Sylhet Agricultural University continued their sit-in for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Alimul Islam over allegations of irregularities, autocratic conduct and corruption.

A section of university officials has also joined the protest programme.

The protesters locked the main gate of the university’s administrative building and staged a human chain and sit-in in front of it.

Leaders and activists of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) also joined the protest.

Earlier on Monday, 11 teachers and officials including five teachers resigned from 11 administrative posts, alleging irregularities and corruption against the VC.

They also submitted a memorandum to the President seeking his removal.

Prof Mozammel Haque, general secretary of the university teachers’ association backed by the “White Panel” and a former proctor, said teachers and officials resigned from 11 administrative posts in protest against the VC’s irregularities and autocratic conduct.

The resigning officials included provosts of several residential halls and teachers and officials holding other important administrative positions.

The resigning teachers and officials alleged that irregularities occurred in development and construction works, procurement processes and teacher recruitment since the current administration took charge.

They said they decided to step down from their administrative responsibilities after their objections to the irregularities failed to bring any effective action.

They claimed that development and construction activities at the university largely remained stalled.

Although some development and repair works were carried out with funds from the revenue budget, the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) were not properly followed in some cases, they alleged.

They also alleged that repair work was carried out at the university auditorium before it was formally taken over by the university.

Questions have been raised over the necessity and implementation process of the work, they said, adding that proper tender procedures were not followed for some projects.

They said under government procurement rules, the lowest bidder should be awarded the work if the bidder meets the required qualifications and has submitted all necessary documents for the purchase of electronics and furniture.

But in several cases, the lowest bidders were excluded and the work was awarded to preferred individuals, they claimed.

They also alleged irregularities and favouritism in teacher recruitment.

They claimed that graduates of Sylhet Agricultural University were given comparatively less importance in the recent recruitment of eight teachers, while most of the positions were given to candidates from other universities.

Prof Md Kawser Hossain, a resigning provost, said, “It has become difficult to maintain an academic environment and discipline under the current administrative situation at the university. That is why we were forced to step down from our administrative responsibilities.”

However, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Alimul Islam rejected the allegations of the teachers and officials as baseless.

He said they sought release from their administrative posts and that their terms have already expired, adding that they no longer wanted to continue in those positions.

“There are many teachers at the university who believe in nationalist ideology. Their resignations will not create any problem. Their main target is to remove me,” he said.

The VC further said, “The government appointed me. If the government asks me to leave, I will leave.”

Rejecting allegations of irregularities or corruption in teachers’ recruitment, he said only qualified candidates have been appointed to teaching positions.

“All those recruited have first-class academic records, and the appointments were made in accordance with the law,” he said.