Bangladesh News

The University Grants Commission (UGC), statutory apex body in the field of university education in Bangladesh, has endorsed the findings by probe committees of rampant corruption and irregularities in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

However, UGC cannot take action against misappropriation in BSMMU, but it believes the authorities concerned should take necessary action against the people involved in corruption, insiders say.

“Generally the University Grants Commission cannot intervene in such internal matters of a university. The commission is not a controlling authority; it’s just a facilitator. Only the university authorities and the government agencies concerned can take actions in this regard,” UGC member Prof Md Abdul Hakim told The Daily Star.

Prof Hakim has reviewed the probe reports of BSMMU committees regarding corruption in purchase, appointment and administrative irregularities.

“It has been proved that grave offences have been committed in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,” he opined last month following the review.

When UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam wanted to know which matters Prof Hakim identified as grave offences, the latter mentioned a few in purchase, recruitment and administrative irregularities in his letter on September 24.

The UGC in a letter on October 12 asked BSMMU what action, if any, it has taken against the corruption and irregularities so far.

Sources in BSMMU however say though several committees were formed both by the university and the government in phases, no action has been taken and no-one knows if anything positive would happen at all.

In reply to a question, Prof Hakim said, “I think actions should be taken against the corruption and irregularities committed in the medical university.”

A source in UGC said the commission may recommend action against the people involved in corruption and irregularities in financial and administrative matters including appointments.

The investigators have so far unearthed evidence of graft involving over Tk 22 crore purchase and maintenance, about half of which was estimated as loss to the university.

The probes were initiated following direct instructions from the Chief Adviser’s Office, the Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Health. During investigations, it was revealed that financial corruption in purchase and graft in appointment and promotion of teachers and staffs were rampant, sources say.

The probe bodies found huge corruption at BSMMU during the five-year rule of BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance government under vice-chancellor late MA Hadi, who served from October 2001 to November 2006. Hadi passed away on October 16 last year.

Only financial corruption does not end the story of irregularities. Appointments and promotion of teachers and staffs also witnessed irregularities and corruption, which, according to faculty members, would leave a long-term impact.

A BSMMU probe committee led by former head of the Department of Virology Prof Nazrul Islam found that 15 professors, 14 associate professors and 10 assistant professors were appointed or promoted violating three required conditions.

Probes also revealed that about 400 medical officers and 11 non-medical officers were appointed in violation of the rules and regulations.

Besides BSMMU-formed probe committees, the government is also conducting simultaneous investigations by the army-led task force and the Anti-Corruption Commission. But these bodies are not concerned with the graft in appointments.

Health Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali told the Daily Star, “The task force is looking into the financial corruption in the university and University Grants Commission would look into irregularities in teacher’s appointments.”

He however declined to comment on corruption findings and probable action as the whole matter still is under process.

Sources say the health adviser himself got involved with the issue several months ago and talked to the UGC chairman about it.

Some members of the BSMMU Teachers Association also appealed to the UGC chairman to take immediate and effective steps against the misdeeds to save the country’s lone medical university.

Sources involved in the investigations into the corruption say the task force has already submitted its findings about the financial corruption committed between 2001-06.

Many teachers and officials observe the involved persons might be convicted one day, but that would not save the university unless the unqualified persons appointed so far are not removed.

“This government has taken initiatives to clean the country’s lone medical university. But the government is almost at the end of its tenure. If action cannot be taken against the offenders now, what will be the fate of the institution when a political government comes to power?” fears a university teacher who desires not to be named.