A conflict has begun over the ownership of Northern University of Bangladesh (NUB), a leading private university of the country.
After the student uprising in the July-August movement the current board of trustees has also alleged that the office of the university was attacked to take over its control.
However, the founding trustees say that the university took over by force in 2011.
But the University Grants Commission (UGC) says that both sides are very vocal about the control of Northern University. The way they are talking and presenting arguments has made the UGC itself suspicious.
The University's Registrar (In-Charge) Cdr Md Mostafa Shahid (Retd.) has alleged former trustees are trying to take over the university by force. However, they sold shares in 2011, July 27.
He said, "On August 8, former trustees Borhan Uddin and Lutfar Rahman Sunny and some miscreants vandalized the varsity office. They looted money and laptops. At that time, we were saved by the law enforcement agencies."
"We told them, if you are legally the board of trustees, and then show the documents. We will accept you as witnesses. But instead of doing that, they are trying to seize the university by force," he added.
Mostafa Shahid said that they also tried to harass the university vice chancellor. At one stage students resisted and later the army came and brought the situation under control. Borhan and Sunny were arrested at that time.
Sources said that a case has been filed in Dakshinkhan police station regarding the attack on Northern University.
According to University documents, in 2011, former trustees Borhan Uddin, Lutfar Rahman Sunny and other founding trustees sold their shares. Later, in 2012, a new board was formed. A new place for the university was bought and a campus was built. Since then, everything was going well. But after August 5, the founding trustees claimed that the university's control was taken over by force on that time.
Mostafa Shahid said, "Later in 2010, when the government formulated the private university management policy, it was necessary to build a permanent campus. But the previous trustees failed to invest. Later on July 27, 2011, Borhan Uddin, Lutfar Rahman Sunny resigned and they took their share value."
Founding trustees claimed these founding trustee members entered into an agreement with Professor Yusuf Abdullah. The main condition of the agreement was the repayment of the bank's debt and (CIB) clearance.
Borhan Uddin said that Yusuf Abdullah formed a separate trustee board without paying the dues. All the members of which were his close relatives. Then he took over the institution by expelling the old trustees. At that time, a general dairy (GD) was also filed in Mohammadpur Police Station regarding this incident.
Borhan Uddin said that at that time, the Awami League government was running the university by showing the power of the government.
Sources said after 5 August the founding trustees applied to the Ministry of Education to regain control of the university. In response to this application, the University Grants Commission (UGC) formed a three-member committee to look into the matter.
But an objection was raised from Prof Yusuf Abdullah, a trustee of the university, regarding the members of the committee. Later the UGC formed a new committee.
UGC Chairman Prof Dr SMA Faiz told the media, "A deadlock has arisen in the university over its control by two parties. This cannot continue. I can only assure you that the commission will resolve the matter with the utmost impartiality."
The Northern University was established in 2002.
