Outcome of SUST VC's Tenure
SYLHET, Jul 29: No infrastructure was built, a number of teachers were assaulted, campus was closed sine die for several times, 40 people were recruited in master roll without UGC approval and at least Tk 6 crore was borrowed from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) capital fund in the four-year tenure of Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Aminul Haque Bhuyan.
Aminul Haque Bhuyan, Professor of Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of Dhaka University (DU), joined as SUST VC on July 26, 2013, that ended on Thursday (July 27, 2017).
He also recruited six relatives in the university and affiliated colleges violating rules and recruitments of government jobs, a number of SUST teachers and officials claimed.
VC's brother-in-law Humayen Kabir was appointed Guest House Superintendent using fake certificates when he (Humayen) was 32 years old. Meanwhile, three cars were allotted for VC, his daughter, who is a student of a local English medium school in city, and his brother-in-law, a second class officer of the university, respectively.
No infrastructure built: No infrastructural development took place on SUST campus during the tenure of VC Aminul Bhuya, whereas a Tk 200 crore budget was approved for the university from ECNEC recently. He built two low cost houses for employees and a police barrack in front of VC's residence borrowing money from university fund.
Teachers Association President Prof Shamsul Alam told The Daily Observer, "he (VC) opened three departments without any academic building. So shortage of class rooms and lab rooms worsen the scenario. During the nine-year tenure of ruling Awami League (AL), huge infrastructures were built in universities across the country but no development occurred on this campus. And only the VC is responsible this."
When connected, Treasurer Prof Elias Uddin Biswas said, "It's not necessary to refund the money which was borrowed from university's capital fund for development." According to the rules, money borrowed from the capital fund can only be used for paying salaries of the teachers during crisis time.
Teachers' assaulters yet to be punished: No action was taken against the culprits, those who assaulted the pro-liberation war teachers during anti VC movement on August 30, 2015. Pro-AL teacher's came under attack by BCL activists when they were undergoing movement demanding removal of the VC claiming that VC was 'absorbed in corruption and used to misbehave with teachers'. Four BCL activists were suspended from the university and a three-member probe body was formed to investigate the attack on teachers. Then Dean of Physical Science faculty Prof Sabina Islam was made the chief of the committee while the then Proctor Prof Qumruzzaman Chowdhury and then Associate Professor of Sociology Department Amina Pervin were members. The agitated teachers rejected the body formed by VC Aminul Bhuyan and claimed that he was directly involved in the incident.
When contacted, Prof Sabina Islam said the committee submitted the report to the authorities.
However, no action was taken against the attackers even the suspended students are attending classes and sitting for exams.
Meanwhile, one of the suspended students got his certificates with clearance from all offices, SUST sources said.
Campus closed sine die several times: The campus was closed sine die for two times and dormitories were vacated five times following factional clashes among the groups of ruling party's student body. The campus first was closed on November 20, 2014, following the clash between two BCL factions which left one dead and at least fifty injured and reopened after two months. No action was taken over the incident. The campus was closed again on December 21, 2016, following a clash and reopened the next day as general students confined VC around 20 hours at his office demanding immediate reopening of the campus. Residential students were asked seven times to vacate dormitories without syndicate approval during Prof Aminul's tenure.
Syndicate member Prof Kabir Hossain said, "VC can't vacate dormitories without syndicate approval."
At least fifty factional clashes occurred in last two years but no effective action was seen against them.
40 people recruited in master roll without UGC approval: At least forty persons were recruited in master roll on the campus in last one year without University Grant Commission (UGC) approval. They were recruited as MLSS, gardeners, guards and office attendants.
When connected, refusing the allegations VC Prof Aminul Haque Bhuyan told The Daily Observer that he was trying to run the campus peacefully.
"And a vested quarters are spreading rumour against me," he added.
