A probe committee formed by the University Grants Commission on Sunday recommended withdrawing the vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Khondoker Md Nasiruddin, on the ground of autocratic behaviour, irregularities, corruption and moral degradation.
Later, at about 9:30pm, the vice-chancellor left the campus under police protection, Gopalganj sadar police officer-in-charge Monirul Islam confirmed New Age.
He had been staying on the campus during the whole period of the student unrest.
As the five-member committee on the day submitted the probe report to the UGC chairman, Md Kazi Shahidullah, and later the same day to the education ministry’s senior secretary, Sohorab Hossain, it also recommended legal action against the vice-chancellor.
Although the agitating university students appreciated the recommendations they decided to continue their movement until the measures were implemented.
Sohorab Hossain told New Age on Sunday that as he was at Sylhet he would see the recommendations today (Monday) and then a decision would be taken.
The recommendations came following the 12th straight day agitation of the BSMRSTU students in Gopalganj demanding the removal of its VC for his alleged involvement in corruption, misuse of power, autocratic behaviour, sexual abuse and other irregularities.
A UGC press release issued on the day said that the committee – formed to investigate the allegations against the VC – submitted the report to the UGC chairman.
One of the five-member probe committee, seeking anonymity, told New Age on Sunday that all the allegations against the VC were found true.
The committee in its report said that all allegations against the VC were proved, he must be removed and legal action should be taken against him, the member said.
Four of the committee members – UGC members Professor Dil Afroza Begum and Professor Md Sazzad Hossain, Public University Management Division’s director Md Kamal Hossian and deputy director Mauli Azad – were present when the report was submitted, the press release also said.
The BSMRSTU authorities on September 21 closed the university till October 3 but the protesters have been continuing their agitation ignoring the closure notice.
On September 23 the education ministry sent a letter to the UGC for forming a committee to examine the situation at the university.
Following the directive the UGC formed the five-member committee on September 24, headed by commission member Muhammad Alamgir.
The committee visited the university on September 25 and 26 and collected necessary documents and statements of the parties concerned, including the VC and the protesters, as part of its investigation.
Three assistant proctors of the university have stepped down supporting the student agitation and protesting at the role of the university authorities after the students were attacked on September 21by a group of hooligans allegedly backed by the vice-chancellor.
‘We are very happy that the UGC recommended the removal of our corrupt vice-chancellor but we will continue the movement until the recommendations are implemented,’ said Rathindranath Bappi, president of the BSMRSTU unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union.
Amid heavy rains the protesters carried on their demonstrations while several thousand students stayed in front of the administrative building till filing of this report at 7:00pm on Sunday.
On the day at 11pm the protesters arranged a press briefing and urged education minister Dipu Moni to deliver their demand to prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the briefing they alleged that though the university formed a committee to investigate the September 21 attack on students yet the committee had not conducted any investigation.
At 12:00pm the protestors displayed banners and festoons depicting corruption and irregularities by the VC.
At 5.00pm they arranged a drawing programme styled as ‘The Vice-Chancellor in my eye’. (N,Age)
