Bangladesh News

Some 330 students failed to take admission into Pabna Edward College this academic year because of illegal ‘admission business’ by some student organisations and a section of teachers.

Sources said leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and a section of teachers of the college allegedly took money from the admission seekers to ensure their admission to the college.

According to an understanding, BCL managed 210 seats and JCD got 80 for their party supporters under the so-called ‘political admission’ while the teachers also kept 40 seats for their desired candidates in 1st year honours courses.

Meanwhile, an investigation committee formed to probe into the allegations of ‘admission business’ has found involvement of teachers there and recommended for departmental punishment to them. The committee submitted its report to the deputy commissioner of Pabna on Thursday.

College sources said JCD and section of teachers finalised the names of admission seekers for the seats but BCL could not finalise the list of their candidates due to dispute between two factions.

Even the two BCL groups–one led by Pabna district unit president Mostafizur Rahman Sweet and another by Pabna district unit secretary Mostak Ahmed Azad–locked in a clash on Tuesday night over preparing the list of admission seekers, injuring at least 10 BCL and Juba League men.

The deadline for admission to the college ended on Wednesday, the day after the clash. As BCL could not prepare their list, college authorities did not dare to admit students, sources said.

“The date of admission in the first year honours courses ended officially on April 16. But Wednesday was the last day of submitting papers of the students to the National University. The admission process was postponed due to the clash,” said Prof Md Salek, convener of the admission committee.

He said 330 seats will remain vacant in 15 departments of the college this year.

Speaking at a press conference Friday noon, BCL Pabna district unit secretary Mostak Ahmed Azad blamed the rival BCL group for admission business.

Separate cases have been filed with Pabna police station in connection with the factional clashes of BCL on the campus.